Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: This is a very interesting chapter, a lot is revealed so I think you will all be very happy, I enjoyed writing it so much
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Chapter 33: Bounce.
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Harry surveyed Dumbledore's office, members of the Order were arriving slowly as he and Ginny sat to the side. He glanced at Remus and Tonks hunched over a piece of parchment talking in low voices, Remus glancing up every so often and sending his old school friend concerned looks.
Harry turned the direction of his gaze in the direction of Sirius, who was presently pacing backwards and forwards muttering to himself, the messy haired teen got lost in his thoughts as he thought about his Godfathers feelings for Hermione, he was still trying to come to terms with the depth of what Remus and Sirius had told him. Harry glanced at the girl next to him and saw her watching the same scene a look of concern in her bright eyes, while she was avidly trying to avoid the glare her mother was sending the pair.
Dumbledore stood from his position and waited for the hush to fall over the group before speaking.
"Earlier this evening I was alerted to information concerning the whereabouts of Miss Granger," Dumbledore paused here to wait for the surprised murmurs to fade away.
"I'll let our witness tell you their story, and I would like it if everyone remains quiet," he said sending a significant glance in the direction of Sirius. "Until the young man has finished."
When Dumbledore received no protests he smiled a little and continued. "Mister Malfoy, if you will please enlighten the group."
Draco stood apprehensively and began to recall the event he had witnessed eight years ago.
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Flashback (A/N oooohhh haven't had one of these yet….)
Ten year old Draco Malfoy was bored to say the least, here he was in his magnificent mansion with nothing to do, nothing to amuse himself with. His mother was out with some distant cousin and his father - well to be honest he wasn't too sure where his father was.
As any other bored child would do the blonde started to explore his house, maybe he'd find something exciting hidden somewhere in a dusty old closet, though not yet having a wand that may not be the best idea for a ten year old wizard. Nonetheless he continued to walk around his house; it wasn't until he heard his father's voice that he realized he was in the west wing of the large mansion; a place he had been forbidden to go to for as long as he could remember.
The small, soon to be Slytherin, poked his head cautiously around the corner to see his father and two other men walking down the corridor, seizing the chance to cure his boredom the young boy followed stealth like down the long hall.
He stopped and hid behind a statue of some long ago ancestor as his father and his companions stopped in front of a portrait of a blonde wizard with a remarkably long nose. Draco stood confused for a moment wondering what the cause for the halt of his father was before he saw a door materialize opposite the portrait
His father opened the door and stepped into the room, passing through some sort of shimmering shield as he stepped over the threshold. Draco moved closer to the door to get a better look and was confused as to what he saw inside. A bushy haired young woman in a tatty robe stood in front of his father a defiant expression written on her face as she spoke to the elder blonde. The younger Malfoy couldn't hear what was being said but was shocked when his father struck the woman to the floor with his fist before muttering something and leaving the room.
Draco hid himself to his best abilities in the dark corner and waited until his father had left before venturing out into the dark corridor and approaching the door. He gingerly grabbed the knob and swung it open but stood beyond the room.
The witch inside looked up from the bed she was sitting on and looked curiously at the boy, confusion written across her face.
"Draco?" she stammered.
The small boys eyes widened in shock, how did this witch know his name, he nodded mutely unable to find his voice.
"It can't be, you're not this old yet," the witch appeared to be doing a quick calculation in her head before her face contorted in anger.
"NO, THIS IS A TRICK!" She screamed grabbing an old book from the small bedside table and throwing it at the small boy causing him to slam the door and hightail back to the main part of his house.
Meanwhile the witch stared at the book on the floor that had hit the barrier keeping her locked in this room "Oh Merlin," she whispered to herself."I'm going crazy."
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The Order stared at the blonde Slytherin after he had told them his tale, many with looks of apprehension and confusion etched into their faces.
"It can't be Hermione," Mrs. Weasley spoke up. "It doesn't make sense, how old did she look?" She asked the Slytherin.
Draco gave the red headed witch a disdainful look before answering. "I'd say early twenties."
"See," the witch continued. "If she was in that room she would have been at least in her late twenties early thirties"
"Not necessarily Molly," Remus answered before Sirius could open his mouth to argue with the elder woman's point. "Harry and Ginny found an interesting piece of information in a book about a concept known as a 'time trap'. If Hermione looked younger than she should have it is possible that she is in one of these," the Werewolf explained smiling at the two Gryffindors, proud of their find.
Molly looked shocked at this and didn't reply. It was Mad eye Moody who next spoke.
"How do we know the young girl is still alive?" he pondered gruffly. "I don't think we should risk Order members on something a Slytherin saw eight years ago."
Draco shot to his feet at this remark sending daggers in the direction of the old wizard but it was Sirius who grabbed the attention of the Order.
The black haired wizard slammed his fists down on the table and glared around the room. "I AM SICK OF PEOPLE TELLING ME THAT HERMIONE MAY BE DEAD," he roared his voice traveling across the room before he lowered it. "She is NOT dead, I know it and Harry knows it."
This time it was Kingsley who spoke up, he never did like to be told what to do. "I can understand how Harry knows Sirius, but how do you know, you're only her teacher."
Sirius pale grey eyes flashed. "I know because I love her," he whispered before walking out of the room, leaving the Order in a state of shock.
Dumbledore sent Molly a warning look as she muttered remarks about the dark haired wizard and inappropriateness. "As you all know Hermione was sent back in time, it was there," he stated looking at Molly. "That she met Sirius when he was younger, the rest is not my story to tell, I would ask of you all though not to hold Sirius love against him, he knew a different Hermione, he was her peer not her teacher." Dumbledore's explanation left no room for argument and Harry and Ginny left the office as the Order began to organize their rescue.
Outside the Gargoyle Ginny stole a glance at Harry who was deep in thought. "You know," she began. "Maybe you should talk to Remus about Hermione and Sirius, he was there, he may be able to explain what you want to know."
Harry stared at the witch in shock. "Am I that obvious?" he asked.
Ginny smiled and shook her head. "No, I just know what I'm looking at."
Harry cocked his head and regarded the red head before grabbing her hand and heading down the corridor.
"You're coming with me, we'll wait in Remus' chambers," he stated, missing the rising blush creeping up on the young girls face and they made their way hand in hand down the corridors.
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Remus was a little shocked when he entered his quarters and was greeted by the sight of a messy haired teen in glasses and a red head. He smiled slightly for a moment as he was pushed back into the past.
Harry looked up from his conversation with Ginny when the werewolf entered the room. "Hey Remus," he greeted.
"Hello Harry, Ginny," he returned. "Can I help you with anything?"
Harry shifted uncomfortably for a moment before answering. "Well, I just, its uhhh…."
Remus smiled. "You want to know a little more about Hermione and Sirius from a bystanders point of view," the older wizard guessed.
Harry looked slightly guilty before answering, "Yeah."
Remus nodded and looked thoughtful for a moment before moving to another room and returning with a large book and seating himself between his students.
"This is my photo album of our seventh year," he explained opening it up and revealing pictures of himself and his friends. "You can borrow it to look at but I'll just show you one picture in particular," he said flipping through the pages to find what he was searching for.
"This one," he said pointing at a picture of Sirius and Hermione sleeping on the couch. "It was taken the day after Gryffindor had won the Quidditch cup."
Harry stared at the picture, Sirius and Hermione looked so content, just so right for each other, looking at the photo it all suddenly made sense to the young wizard and he smiled gratefully at Remus.
"Thanks," he said returning his gaze to the picture.
Remus smiled and stood ushering the pair out of the room, Harry still clutching the album, "You can look through that while we're gone," he said, "you'll see that Hermione at least wasn't alone for a period of time she was missing."
Harry nodded and thanked the werewolf before leaving the room with Ginny, pondering on how Sirius must feel, they, he and Remus, had told Harry about the morning of Hermione's disappearance and he felt his heart twist for his Godfather. Harry loved Hermione, there was no doubt in his mind, but the love that she and Sirius shared went so much deeper, and Harry couldn't begin to fathom the amount of pain his Godfather must have gone through the day she disappeared.
