A/N: Reviewer Responses:

encantada: Hmm... not sure if I can cover this one up as well as I might have on the last one. Ah, how about this? Flamel's card wasn't made until a short time after this because J.K.R. doesn't give a real specific time as to when these cards were made. Man, I'm really going to have to watch myself around you... I will say this though, I'm grateful to have such an (What was it you said? Obsessed? Yes, that's it.) an obsessed reader because you keep me on my toes and I love that! Thank you!

mrs skywalker: This would be after. You'll soon see his following. They might not be as great and serious as they are today, but he's just starting them... so it's shortly after. Hope you enjoy the rest.

Gaerwen: Yeah, I think Harry, Ron, and Hermione belong in school anyways. Besides, I would think that there would be some kind of law out there that would make them go back or some type of magic... something. I don't think McGonagall would just let Harry, Ron, and Hermione not come back to school while knowing that they weren't going to another school. The dentist thing... it was unique and as you might be able to tell, I like to be unique. See, everyone has her as a teacher or something, but then I got to thinking, well, she might go into something like her parents' business... take over their practice even.

Liv Anguifer: Really? Can you cite it for me where Jo says this... it would be a BIG help to me. You see, I got his eye color from a picture I was looking at on the internet so... Guess you can see how that goes. But thanks!

And last but not least, EvilDee and Mrs Pierre Bouvier.

Now, enjoy all...

Chapter 5 – More Secrets, Tales, and an Idea

"So, do you mind telling me why it is that you are so afraid of Tom?" Dumbledore beseeched Hermione.

"Wouldn't you be?" Hermione asked incredulously.

"No," Dumbledore said simply.

"He's pure evil," Hermione sighed. "I know for a fact you don't trust him and that you keep a close eye on him."

"That I do. But why do you fear him so? You wouldn't know him... would you?"

"You see in my time there is this man named Voldemort. No one dares to speak his name, except for me, you, Harry Potter, and a very few select others. Everyone else calls him He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named or You-Know-Who," Hermione said.

"Yes, continue... I would very much like to know what this has to do with our young Tom," Dumbledore encouraged.

"Well, Voldemort is actually Tom Riddle," Hermione informed. "He's a very dark wizard in my time. He's killed countless people including my friend's, Harry's, parents. He's deep into the Dark Arts and hates Muggle-borns."

"I see," Dumbledore sighed in a grim way.

"That's why I fear him so much. I'm a Muggle-born and he hates them. He's nothing but evil I tell you. He'll disappear in a year or so after going to work for Borgin & Burkes and creating some Horcruxes. In a few years time after that, he's going to resurface as the most powerful dark wizard of the age. He won't be recognizable as Tom Riddle because he'll have undergone so many magical transformations, but-" Hermione became distraught at this and she soon lost all sense of words.

"I understand, Miss Granger," Dumbledore soothed.

"It affects me so because of what he's done to my friend's life. Voldemort took his parents when Harry was just a baby and he's made him suffer every year from then until now – well not now – but you know," Hermione said with exasperation and sorrow.

"Sounds like this boy has it quite tough in life," Dumbledore agreed.

"That's not the only friend of mine he's hurt. My friend, Ginny, was in her first year at Hogwarts when he came out of a possessed diary and tried to kill her. In fact, he would have already preserved himself inside the diary as he was when he was sixteen," Hermione explained. "I just wish I could stop him now so that she wouldn't have to suffer like she did."

Dumbledore stopped as she said this. He turned to her with a strange twinkle in his eye, one Hermione had never seen before even in her time.

"What?"

"Miss Granger, I think that you may be onto something," Dumbledore said slowly.

"On to what?"

"How would you like to change the future?" Dumbledore suggested as though he had a plan up his sleeve.

"I'd like to change a few things, but that's wrong," Hermione scolded. "You yourself told me in the future that tampering with time was a bad thing."

"But this is for a good cause," Dumbledore reasoned.

"Yes, you may think that, but there could be serious set-backs," Hermione debated.

"You could save lives... more than one innocent life even," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling brighter as though they were working separately from him to try and persuade her.

Hermione frowned, she had heard him say that before in her third year when she, Harry, and Ron were in the hospital wing. Peter Pettigrew, which they previously knew as Scabbers, had just escaped to go back to his master, Voldemort, and they were going to carry out the Dementor's Kiss on an innocent man. She now recalled how she and Harry went back in time to earlier that day to save Buckbeak the hippogriff and Sirius Black, Harry's truly innocent godfather.

"I-"

"You could give your friend Harry a fresh start, and your friend, Ginny... just think what you could do for her," Dumbledore pleaded. "And how many other people's lives you could change."

Hermione thought about this. She could bring Harry's parents to him, save Ginny from suffering the possessed diary, and not only those two friends, but Neville as well. His parents had been tortured to insanity by Voldemort's followers, if there was no Voldemort, they could live with Neville. Then there was poor Winky, without Voldemort to corrupt Crouch Jr., then he wouldn't have conjured the Dark Mark and got Winky blamed for it. Therefore, she wouldn't have got fired and she would still be happy.

Not to mention she could save George and Charlie from death as well as her favorite teacher Lupin and his girlfriend, Tonks. Glee shot through her as she thought about how much different Ron's life would be. She liked him a great deal and would do anything to make him happy, even change the future to save his brothers. Yet Hermione began to think about some of the others it wouldn't help.

Dobby wouldn't have been saved from the Malfoy's. Yet that was one life to countless others like Harry, Ginny, Neville, Winky, and Cedric. How could she have forgotten Cedric? There were four lives there, Cedric, his parents, and Cho, she could alter by stopping Voldemort and bringing Cedric back. Not to mention she could stop Cho and Harry from dating and save Harry grief.

She marveled for a moment at how much changing one event could affect others. Saving Cedric could keep Cho and Harry from dating. Harry and Ginny might have been together longer because of that. Ginny and Dean wouldn't have problems now because of that. 'Wow!' Hermione awed.

"Miss Granger?"

Every ounce of Hermione's brain was beating against this challenge, but her heart was screaming yes. It told her to try, nothing ever hurt to try, and if all else failed, she was sure Dumbledore could go back and fix it.

"I've decided," she sighed heavily.

"And?"

"I'll do it," Hermione spoke softly. Dumbledore said nothing which caused her to look up at him and see that his eyes were twinkling like never before. They were so bright that they looked like he had taken the brightest two stars in the sky and put them in his irises.

He smiled at her in a proud, fatherly way. This time she looked away from that warm gesture because she didn't want to think that happy, proud face could be wrong about something. In her mind, things that could go wrong still pulsated like a movie on repeat.

"Ron... come on up to bed," Harry called from the bottom of the boys' dorm staircase. "You've been sitting there like that for the past three hours."

"How could she just disappear out of Hogwarts like that?" Ron challenged sadly.

"I'm not sure, Ron," Harry sighed as he left the stairs and came to sit on the couch by his friend.

"It just doesn't make sense, Harry. They say this is one of the safest places in all of the wizarding world."

"I don't understand it either," Harry sighed. Ron leaned forward and put his face in his hands. He sat there like that for a few minutes before Harry noticed that he was shaking slightly. "Ron?"

"I just want her back," Ron breathed as he wiped his face. Harry frowned harder than before, he didn't like seeing Ron like this. "I just want her back," Ron repeated in a soft whisper.

Harry patted Ron on the back, he didn't know what else to do.

"C'mon mate... I think a bit of sleep will do you some good," Harry pointed out.

"Maybe I can dream her back," Ron sighed as he stood up. Harry followed him over to the stairs, but he was stopped when someone called to him.

"Go ahead, Ron, I'll be up in a minute," Harry said as he turned and saw that it was Lavender.

"Is it true, Harry?" she requested.

"About Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Everyone's saying she was kidnapped," Lavender whispered.

"We don't know that for sure, though," Harry breathed.

"Poor Ron," Lavender frowned. "He really liked her and she liked him back just as much if not more."

Harry knew why Lavender was doing this. Hermione had stole Ron from Lavender who apparently really did like Ron quite a bit. Now Lavender, who still liked him, saw this as an opening to get him back. Whether her intentions were good in that she wanted to keep him from feeling alone or bad in that she wanted Ron all to herself despite the dilemma with Hermione which she probably didn't care about, Harry wasn't sure.

"Yeah, I know," Harry frowned.

"I'd hate to think what would happen to him if they never found her."

"Me, too," Harry sighed, doubting that she would hate them not finding Hermione.

"Listen, if there's anything I can do to help, Harry, let me know," Lavender offered. "Ron's too sweet a guy to suffer like that." With that, Lavender turned and went up the girls' dormitory stairs.

Harry's brow furrowed as he watched her disappear into the shadows of the stairwell. Ron was too nice a guy? What was she playing at? She had said he was rude and a jerk for the way he had dumped. Now that Hermione was gone he was nice again?

"Will that be all, ma'am?"

"Yes, I believe so," Hermione replied as the store clerk bagged her items. "Professor, how will I pay for this?"

"Do not worry... for all is taken care of," Dumbledore beamed. "Think of this as my treat to you for being my help in making a change for the better." Hermione smiled and watched Dumbledore grab her bags. "Would you like some dinner?"

"Actually, I'd love that," Hermione laughed. "I've not eaten since... well, goodness I can't remember. How long was I in the hospital wing?"

"If I am not mistaken, you've been there for about a day and a half... possibly two days. Not very long considering your condition... Eona is one of our best Healers ever," Dumbledore replied. "She can work wonders."

"When you found me – or rather when Tom found me – what was the matter? Like, how did I look?"

"Just awful really," Dumbledore began as they entered the Three Broomsticks. "You were bleeding from the ears and you had a large cut on your forehead. You couldn't move – but you were unconscious, so that explains your immobility – and you were very bruised."

"Well," Hermione sighed. "And the Healer fixed all that?"

"The cut on your head and the bruises were healed in seconds... your eardrums in a matter of a few hours, and the paralyzed state took only a day or so to heal. Yet the potion she gave you I think might have been too powerful... it was a concoction of her own ingenious ways, so I'm not very sure of the side-affects that it might have," Dumbledore pointed out. "She said that you had broken ribs and your legs were broken as well as your wrists. Those would have taken overnight to heal with some Skele-Gro."

"I guess I was worse off than I thought, huh? No wonder the Healer didn't want me out yet," Hermione said. "So, does Madam Rosemerta still run this pub?"

"The only Rosemerta I know is the one that plays here in the back of the pub," Dumbledore laughed. "No, the man that runs it right now is her grandfather, Miles." There was a pause in their conversation which caused Hermione to think of something.

"Um- Professor, what am I going to tell people when they ask about my parents?"

"That's a good point. I've never before thought of that," Dumbledore admitted. "I suppose we'll think of something, but for now, let's order."

"Albus... what can I get for you two?" the waiter questioned.

"I'll have a sherry and some of those delicious little lemon tarts you serve. Miss Granger?"

"A butterbeer and a bowl of chowder," Hermione ordered politely.

"I'll be right back with that," Miles said before walking off and disappearing into the kitchen behind the bar.

"I have no parents back in this time, so I have to say I'm orphaned in some way or another," Hermione spoke up after a few seconds silence.

"Yes, I suppose that's true. How is it you feel you should be orphaned? It needs to be believable," Dumbledore agreed.

"I'm not sure really," Hermione said in a defeated manner.

"And why is it that you would have turned up at Hogwarts?"

"I don't know, can't you think of something?" Hermione was getting just a little frustrated with his persistent questioning, yet no help.

"I am helping, Miss Granger," Dumbledore laughed. "I'm only asking you what everyone else would ask." Hermione rolled her eyes, he had beaten her on that one.

"Fine, then. Help me come up with something to tell them in answer to those questions," Hermione rephrased.

"You were in horrible shape when you got here, and there's no doubt that that news is already circulated the castle twice or more times," Dumbledore thought aloud.

"I see that's still the same," Hermione mumbled. "Everyone will want to know what happened then."

"Simple... you were in danger. Hogwarts is one of the safest places in the wizarding community. Your parents and you were in danger and they told you if ever there was trouble, to come here."

"I would have Apparated here," Hermione reminded.

"You crawled into the castle after Apparating to the gates," Dumbledore smiled.

"I think you're enjoying this alibi making a little too much," Hermione laughed.

"I'm merely suggesting. Now, what kind of danger could you have been in that would cause you to be so beat up and retreat to Hogwarts?" Dumbledore played with the tip of his beard, which was not nearly as long as Hermione remembered it from in her day.

"Wait, I could say I was told to come here to be under your protection," Hermione suggested.

"Okay, then. That's a good enough idea... but why would you need to be under my protection?" Then something snapped in Hermione's head. Harry.

"Harry!"

"You need my protection because of Harry?"

"No, Harry's situation is something I can use as an alibi," Hermione exclaimed. "He's got no parents, they were killed by Voldemort and Harry's under your protection right now in the future- or at least he was."

"But Voldemort doesn't exist yet," Dumbledore pointed out. "And never will if we have it our way."

"Wait... what about Grindelwald?" Hermione pointed out as she recalled Dumbledore's bio on the back of Ron's Chocolate Frog cards.

"Yes, he is a great problem for me right now," Dumbledore said as he rubbed the roots of his beard and his chin.

"That's settled, then," Hermione beamed as Miles appeared with their drinks and food.

"Let's hurry and eat, it's getting quite late. It's already eight thirty," Dumbledore announced. "Eona will surely curse me into next week if I don't have you back in time."

"Hermione!"

"Ron, what's the matter?" Harry jumped out of bed and stared at Ron as he sat there upright in his bed, sweat pouring down his forehead.

"I had this horrible dream that Hermione was under the Cruciatus Curse... and there was this high pitched laugh in the background," Ron said. "Then, everything went black, but I could still hear her screaming for- for someone named Tom. Then, just before I woke up, there were these eyes... bright as fire and redder than blood."

"Voldemort," Harry whispered.

"But who- who's Tom?"

"The only Tom I've ever heard of is the second year Ravenclaw and the fourth year Hufflepuff... and-," Harry stopped, he didn't want to continue his sentence because he knew it was too bad to mention.

"And who, Harry?"

"Voldemort... his name was Tom Riddle before he became Voldemort," Harry answered in a soft, glum voice.

Ron's face looked absolutely pale and down trodden. Harry had never seen him looking so blue about something, except for maybe when he heard that Ginny had been the one taken into the Chamber of Secrets in their second year.

"Maybe she was yelling for him to stop using Cruciatus... I mean, Dumbledore calls him Tom, maybe Hermione thought she could get through to him or throw him off track by calling him Tom," Harry pointed out.

"But wouldn't that just anger him... you said yourself that he doesn't like his name and that's why he changed it. Besides I- I don't think that's why," Ron sighed.

"Why not?"

"Because she yelled 'Tom! Please help me!'," Ron answered gloomily.

Harry frowned and stared at the floor. He really didn't know what to say now that would make Ron feel better.

"It's just a dream, Ron," Harry assured him.

"But look at your dreams, Harry," Ron said. "You're the one that saw into You-Know-Who's hide-out at the summer before our fourth year... and you saw my dad get bit by that snake... and what about lately? You've been having more and more dreams about You-Know-Who and all his followers... the punishments they've been putting on people-"

"But that's because of my scar... it connected me with Voldemort," Harry explained. "That's the only reason my dreams are like visions. And he's been blocking me out now anyways probably because of Snape telling him about my dream visions."

"Yeah, but others can have vision-like dreams. Look at Trelawney," Ron said hoarsely.

Harry cocked an eyebrow and stared at Ron as though he were crazy or there was fur on his nose.

"Okay, okay," Ron sighed, "bad example. What I'm trying to say is, that any wizard or witch can have vision-like dreams and not have to have been cursed."

"How rare a gift is that, though? How many people have actual visions in their dreams?"

Ron sat there for a moment staring at Harry in the semi-darkness. The late, fast fading sunset was the only thing lighting the room except for the moon which was pale and half hidden behind some clouds which foreshadowed a coming storm.

"I hope you're right, Harry," Ron relented with a deep inhale. "I really don't want to think of Hermione being tortured by You-Know-Who... or calling out for some guy named Tom."

"You know she likes you. Why would she go to anyone else?"

"I don't think she would...," Ron muttered.

"Are you saying you doubt her?"

"Not her... never her. I'm just worried about what influence other people might have on her. I mean look at what Krum did to her in our fourth year," Ron said with worry popping up here and there in his voice.

"I don't think you have to worry abou-," Harry was stopped here though as lightning lit up their faces with a bluish white light and thunder rumbled so loud that it shook the glass panes of the window.

They were silent for a moment before Ron spoke up with a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Looks like we won't have to have Herbology tomorrow," he laughed. "Last time the greenhouse we were working in got flooded. And so did the dungeon come to think of it."

"Yeah, hopefully the rain keeps up until then," Harry laughed too as he decided that this sudden change of subject was good for Ron's sake, though he knew Ron was still worried about Hermione, just like him.