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I believe I could fly,

But I don't believe I could get so high,

To think that I own anything,

I have more chance of bein' able to sing.

Chapter 5: The Only Certainty is That Nothing is Certain

New and old… thick and diminutive… the varieties of books were endless. Of course, if they had known Hermione for even a day longer, the five of them could have guessed she owned such a collection.

After Hermione's excited outburst, which the others didn't understand since they weren't yet told these were her only pieces from home, the group looked to her for some explanations.

She just looked at them and smiled.

"I guess we all better take a seat then," she began, slowing seating herself and gesturing the others to follow her suit.

Dumbledore was the first to break the silence that filled the room.

"I suggest you start from the beginning."

"I fear that that may reveal too much. However, I will tell you that I've come here from afar… or from the future per say, and I've met you all before. Well, almost all of you."

She paused and quickly glanced at James.

"Three of you I have come to know very well."

"The future?" remarked Peter, his voice filled with perceptible doubt. "How can you expect us to believe this rubbish?"

"Actually, it seems to all be coming together now," surmised Sirius, "She did say she knew me better than even I did. After all, we've tried to meddle with time before… unsuccessfully I might add, but I have heard that there are such devices people have used to go back in time."

He stopped and gazed into space for a moment to gather his thoughts..

"Gosh, what are they called?" Sirius' face took a strained expression as he rubbed his temples. "The ministry discovered it recently, but their not sure it's safe quite yet …"

"Time turners," answered Remus, glad his extensive knowledge might actually come in handy. "They were invented a year ago by Marulus Vampton. Supposedly he found a way to use strange, magical sand from an unknown place- he refused to say where- and situated it into a two way, funnel type object, which is able to send people back in time, but not forward."

Everyone gazed at him curiously, especially Hermione, now frightened that she may never be able to return.

"In fact, as far as I've read, the ministry has concluded that they can only send people back a few days at most and are considered extremely dangerous."

Hermione tried to counter his earlier theories with some optimism, failing hopelessly.

"Well, obviously the time turners will have evolved in the last twenty years and they can send you more than a few days back in time, but I don't happen to have a time turner from the future that may take me forward considering I didn't use one to get here."

"How is that possible?" questioned James.

"That is one very essential part that I'm not able to tell you."

"If you have no evidence, then I still see no reason to believe you," pressed Peter.

She was becoming very irritated with him as she already resented sharing the same room with the man who would be responsible for the murders of two innocent people sitting right beside him, completely oblivious to their terrible, iniquitous deaths.

"Evidence?" she replied rather defensively. "I'll give you evidence! Peter Pettigrew a.k.a. Marauder a.k.a. Wormtail a.k.a. rat anima- animal lover."

Hermione was about to reveal that she knew he was an animagus, but seeing that Dumbledore was in the room and he didn't find this out untill her third year, no matter how much she hated not to say anything, it wasn't her place to alter the time line.

James butted in. "Okay, but- "

"James Potter a.k.a. Leader of Marauders a.k.a. Prongs a.k.a. father of my best friend, Harry James Potter," Hermione finished.

"I also happen to know that you were a seeker just as Harry will be. The best and youngest seeker Hogwarts has ever seen, I might say!" She added proudly.

"Really?" James inquired, giving a half smile. "Well I suppose he would be, considering he's my son! But who is this woman who chose the name Harry, for I most certainly must not have had a say in it?"

"You'll find out in a year or so."

Hermione smiled, but her face quickly took a sad expression. This was extremely weird speaking to these boys as if everything was fine… everything was normal… as if he were still going to be alive in even a few years or so.

James must not have seen her face for he continued rather excitedly.

"I bet I'm his biggest fan and when we all see each other, he's the highlight of our conversation! Do I see him play Quidditch often!"

Her sorrow only increased at James' enthusiasm.

"Umm… sure, but you know, parents don't usually visit Hogwarts to see their children play on a regular basis."

She had to lie. She just had to! She simply couldn't let anything slip about what would happen to him… or to all of them, as a matter of fact. None in that room would ever find peace and happiness again in another two years.

"I have pictures in these."

She pointed out her bookshelves where there was a line of photo albums from each of her years at Hogwarts. Colin Creevey and his brother made sure of this.

She brought her third year out for them all to see and opened it up to a random page in the middle. The first picture that caught their eyes was one of Remus patting Harry on the back after he had overcome the "Dementors" during a Quidditch game.

"Is that… well… me?" inquired Remus in awe.

"Yes," reassured Hermione with a nod, "You were the best Defense against the Dark Arts teacher we'd ever had throughout all of our years in Hogwarts. Harry especially appreciated you, considering your connections to his father's past. You and Sirius told us great stories."

She tried to hide her tears as memories swarmed back to her.

"That explains why you called me professor," Remus recalled. "But why do I look so old? And my hair is all gray."

Hermione laughed, but didn't respond.

"There's actually a funny story that went with this picture. You had secretly been giving private lessons to Harry about how to defend yourself against Dementors because they kept appearing on the Quidditch field."

"There were Dementors at my school?" questioned Dumbledore, as Hermione began to remember how much he loathed the fact that they had to reside at Hogwarts. "Are times so horrible that they have to come in order to protect us?"

"Well, not exactly. They were more looking for one fugitive who kept finding ways to sneak into the school, but I'd rather not continue on that subject… " Hermione answered, quickly trying to divert their attention elsewhere.

"But the point is that Harry was just about to catch the snitch when three certain students decided it would be funny to trick Harry into thinking that Dementors were attacking the field again. However, thanks to Lupin, Harry shot the Patronus spell in their faces, scaring them out of their wits! It was absolutely hilarious!"

"Did Harry catch the snitch?"

"Who were the three students?"

"I don't even know how to conjure the Patronus spell."

James, Sirius, and Remus commented all at once.

"Yes he caught the snitch," Hermione giggled. "Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were the three little buggers who tried to trick him, but I'll assure you that they didn't get away with it."

"Brilliant!" exclaimed Sirius.

"Malfoy as in Lucius Malfoy?" James asked.

"No, his son," answered Hermione.

"Narcissa," whispered both boys at once, clearly disgusted.

Hermione smiled and turned away.

"Oh, and Remus, I'm certain you will learn how to conjure the Patronus spell soon enough. After all, the future is permanent, is it not?"

"The only certainty is that nothing is certain, my dear Miss Granger," pointed out Dumbledore.

"Do you mean that I could possibly be drastically altering the future at this moment?" she asked him, now persistent and a bit uneasy.

"Anything is possible when nothing is permanent. Many years ago, I discovered time has its own way of revealing things to us. How can things remain when everything is always changing?"

She looked thoughtful as he continued.

"The only constant is love."

"If this is true, then it's possible you can send her back?" Remus asked hopefully, though anyone who was watching his face could have guessed he wasn't.

"Surely, surely Remus, but that is, of course, up to Hermione when she is ready to go back."

Hermione's face brightened immensely.

"I must say that the sooner the better, tomorrow perhaps?"

Dumbledore chuckled lightly.

"I'm afraid it's not that easy. I have a thought at what might be your way of traveling back, but it not under my control when you will go."

She frowned at the news, not aware of the grins displayed every one of the other's faces as Dumbledore continued.

"You will know when the time has come, but do not expect it for time always has a purpose."

"I… but, I couldn't possibly stay here! I have classes and Head Girl duties and Harry to protect!"

Sirius laughed, laying a hand on her shoulder.

"Have you already forgotten he hasn't even been born yet? You'll be just fine. We'll make sure of that," he drawled.

Hermione was suddenly afraid of the smirk playing across his face.

"Great! Then, it's settled. You shall stay in the Gryffindor girls dorm which I'm hoping hasn't changed too much since you last saw it." Dumbledore's eyes sparkled with delight as if he had not a clue in the world of what might be playing in the devious minds of four audacious boys. "I'll have McGonagall see to it that you have a schedule and supplies out of the school's funds. There should be a trip to Hogsmeade next weekend where your classmates may show you around and gather any other luxuries you might require.

"Oh, and a few words of caution to you all… do not speak of Miss Granger's blast to the past freely amongst anyone but yourselves. There would be great consequences had the information be passed on into the wrong hands. On a happier note, I do hope you find your stay here pleasant enough, Hermione. Mischievous though these boys may be, you can trust that their more loyal than any Gryffindors you may ever meet. Good day!"

And he left as cheerful as a man who just won a hundred-thousand galleons.

A/N: Sorry for the long delay in posting this chapter. I was suffering a bit of writer's block for a while, but hopefully I'm beginning to come out of it. I promise it will get more interesting in future chapters. I seem to like this one the least of all I've written so far.

I just want to thank all of you who decided to review which was: Rane2920072, The TRUE Angel of Music, Lizzieangel90, MidnightRequiem, SpikesDreamer, and Dracula5555. I would have made personal thank-yous to everyone, but that would have been too hard because I felt the same about each and every one of them. I couldn't stop smiling after seeing new and old reviewers displaying such heartening complements towards my story and me as a writer. I can't even begin to explain what that means to me.

Lots of love to my editor, Dem Dem!