Disclaimer: We don't own it. Any of it. 'Cause we are not clever enough. So there. Woooo. Joanne Rowling owns Harry Potter.

Delusion Of Time

Chapter One

Peeking over the mountains, which surrounded the magnificent magical school that was Hogwarts, the bright sunlight shone through every window on the east side of the castle, dowsing, the Head Girl, Hermione Granger's pillow in vibrant, white yellow light. This caused the eighteen year old brunette to twitch and slowly creak open her mocha brown orbs. Blinking away the tiredness which still clung reluctantly to her eyes she pulled back her crimson duvet.

Today was the day. The day they had been planning over six weeks solid; Gryffindor's golden trio were going to go back in time. Dumbledore had approached them at the beginning of the summer, explaining that they were to use means of an ancient, unused, magic to travel into the past and attempt to kill Voldemort, while he was young and known only as Tom Marvolo Riddle, Slytherin Prefect. Of course Harry had accepted immediately - for if this was successful his parents would be alive when he returned. Ron - after much pleading to his mother- had been allowed to embark on the journey and for Hermione the sheer curiosity and excitement had captured her almost at once, and after explaining to her parents the significance of Voldemort's death, had also decided that she would accompany her two best friends on their mission.

Placing her bare feet on the stone floor Hermione shivered, feeling goose bumps rise like a wave up her back. After throwing on her robe she could no longer feel the icy breath of an Autumn morning on her frame and slowly made her way to the bathroom, pausing to grab her toothbrush before she entered. Leaning over the sink Hermione brushed her teeth, watching her reflection as she spouted minty foam from her lips.

She had not changed an awful lot she supposed, yes her hair was more wavy than fizzy these days but it had it's moments when it forced her to resemble a fellow relative of Hagrid's, her body had not developed with as curvy features as Parvati's but it was more womanly than the muscled, Quidditch built form of the tall Ginny Weasley. All in all Hermione Granger had become a woman, not only mentally matured but physically, and she was happy with it; knowing that the likes of Cho Chang outshone her beauty did not perturb her in the slightest, Hermione knew she was attractive, no model, but she would do.

After splashing a good deal of cold water on her face Hermione changed into her clothes - a black, short sleeved shirt, with a dark maroon tank top over it and a pair of faded blue jeans. Still yawning slightly she slipped out of the common room and made her way down through the deserted castle until she reached the Great Hall. Everyone else were in their uniforms, ties askew and jumpers rumpled. However amongst the sea of gold and crimson at the Gryffindor table she spotted two boys, both donning casual clothes.

Slipping between a pretty Asian girl, Parvati Patil and a tall red headed female, Hermione smiled pleasantly at her two best friends; Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley. Harry, returned the grin and took a huge bite of his toast, his black hair more unruly than ever, obviously he had been running his fingers through it all morning out of nerves. Meanwhile Ron merely stared at his porridge as though the bland white stodge was something mildly interesting, his cheeks look slightly green and contrasted horribly with his flaming red hair; he was petrified about their mission.

"So, how are we all?" asked Hermione as she plucked an apple from the basket in front of her and shined it up on her sleeve until she could see an odd reflection of herself.

"Um." grunted Ron before he poked his spoon into his bowl.

Harry shook his head hopelessly at the redhead before turning to Hermione and giving her a warm smile, "I'm ok," he replied, "just a little nervous" he added quietly so that only Hermione and Ginny could hear.

As the whispering had caught the attentions of Parvati and Lavender, gossip queens of Gryffindor tower, who seemed to think that if someone was speaking in a hushed voice then they were plotting some scandal, Hermione searched around for a change of subject. Her brown eyes fell upon Snape who was sitting at the top table, fully engrossed in his eggs. Apparently scrambled egg was his weakness or maybe he was merely tying to avoid eye contact with both professors Sprout and Flitwick who were sitting either side of him and both had reputations for being very perky and cheerful in the morning; Hermione got the impression Snape really wasn't a sunrise kind of man and more of a sunset Wizard.

"Er…anyone done that essay for potions?" Harry looked up at Hermione and grinned as he too had notice the interest of the two, usually giggling girls, who had now turned away to find that they were only conversing about school.

"Nope, not yet." Answered Harry. Ginny, who being in the year below them, had tuned out of the conversation and was now staring around the hall, apparently looking for someone.

-

The plate had been cleared away and Hermione, Ron and Harry stood and took one last look around the Hall, knowing that if they failed or if Riddle got the best of them then they would never see the place they come to call home again. Breaking the uncomfortable yet peaceful silence, was the sound of Professor Mcgonagal's shoes as she approached the three Gryffindors. She coughed slightly, not wanting to intrude on their silent goodbyes, Hermione's creamy brown eyes slipped from the enchanted ceiling to her Head of House's heavily lined, stressed, face.

"Hello, Professor."

"Hello, Miss Granger. If you three wouldn't mind I have orders to take you up to Dumbledore now." Hermione tried to smile, Ron shrugged and Harry gave a short and certain nod, they all turned to follow their transfiguration teacher out of the Great Hall. Their footsteps rang unceremoniously through the corridors as they passed the occupied classrooms, no one uttering a word until they reached the stone Griffin and professor Mcgonagal spoke in a clear yet slightly croaky voice to give it the password, 'Liquorice Wands'.

The revolving stair appeared and the four began to climb up the steps which led to Dumbledore's office, they rapped upon the highly varnished, wooden door and entered the room after hearing Dumbledore's voice.

"Right, I shall not bore you with the details again. You know your mission and you know what you must do." Each of the trio nodded, all forgetting quite how to use their voices.

Smiling at them Dumbledore spoke again, "Today watching you three standing there, ready to make this sacrifice, it restores my faith in humanity, knowing that you three are ready to give up so much to do this for the good of the Wizarding world." he allowed his light blues eyes to twinkle at them.

Pulling a small pendant on a chain out of his drawer he handed it to Harry. "This is the Amulet of Pinaryok, it is a means of time travel. Slip it around your neck Harry and hold onto Miss Granger and Mr Weasley's hands, after saying the incantation to activate it, speaking clearly the date of when you want to be and it will transport you there but remember hold tight to your friends, getting lost in the wormholes of time is not something I suggest you do."

Taking in a deep breath Hermione took hold of Harry's hand, he looked at her anxious face and gave it a warm squeeze, however some of Hermione's senses seemed to not be working, she had not registered the fact her hand was clasped in another's and she could only watch as Harry's mouth moved to form the words to activate the Amulet. Suddenly their was a jerk in her navel and she began to spin, feeling Harry and Ron colliding with her, like travelling with both a portkey and floo at the same time.

She couldn't see, everything was mingling into a mass of bright colours, noises whirled through her brain and she felt her hands begin to slip…she couldn't hold on. She wasn't strong enough…she was slipping, falling…no longer could she feel Harry's hand in hers…she was lost in time. Alone.

Ok, so me and Sianum are writing this, me, Tasha, wrote this first chapter and now Sianum just has to get her arse into gear and write the second one. Yay. Just so you know I actually am forcing Sianum to write this fic. Haha. Now review 'cause we said so.