Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J. K. Rowling. The idea of the time-travel mirror was borrowed from the TV-series 'Mirror Mirror' (I don't know who made them).

Mirror of Time

Chapter 2: Lily Evans

From last chapter:

The next moment, she felt herself swirling and whirling around, as if she was trapped in a vortex and it seemed like she was sucked into the mirror. The last thing she saw before the mirror had sucked her in completely, was the inscription on its frame, now perfectly readable.

The Mirror of Time

All of a sudden, Hermione felt herself stop swirling and the next moment her feet touched steady ground again. She looked around, confusedly taking in her surroundings. At her first glance, it seemed like she was still in the same place, a vast space, filled with discarded objects. But still something seemed different, somehow. After another, more careful glance around her, Hermione realised there were less objects than before she had touched the mirror.

Now I think about it, it looks like the image I saw in the mirror when the surface was rippling.

Hermione kept standing there for another few moments, trying to figure out what had happened to her, but she couldn't reach a plausible answer. At last, she decided to give it a rest and go to the kitchens to eat something. Maybe things will become clear later.

Still deep in thought, she wandered down the corridors, and thus not noticing the occasional sound of voices that could be heard in some corridors. That is, until she was stopped by another person who was wandering down the halls.

"Excuse me, but why aren't you wearing your school robes on an ordinary school day?"

Hermione jumped and faced the girl standing before her, totally bewildered as where she had come from.

"I'm sorry for startling you," the girl continued, "but as Head Girl, it is my job to look after other students." When Hermione didn't respond, but merely kept staring, the girl frowned. "Is something wrong? Can I help you?"

Finally, Hermione regained power over her speaking ability. "What are you doing here? Don't you know the school is closed? Who are you anyway?"

Hermione took a moment to take in the sight before her. A red-headed girl with startling green eyes, wearing Hogwarts robes with the Gryffindor colours and a Head Girl badge pinned on. Hermione's thoughts started to run in overdrive at that moment, after being completely void of her thinking abilities too, because of the shock of finding someone in the completely abandoned school.

What is she doing here? How did she come here? Why is she wearing school robes and a Head Girl badge? Could she be a Death Eater in disguise?

Her thoughts were interrupted as the girl answered her questions.

"What are you talking about? I can assure you the school is not closed. As for who I am, I'm Lily Evans, Head Girl this year. And may I know who you are?"

It took Hermione some time before the words the girl had spoken sunk in, and then she could only stare at her for a few long moments. During this time, Hermione really took in the appearance of the other girl. Her vibrant red hair, which resembled the Weasleys', her sparkling green eyes were the exact same as Harry's, Hermione realised, now that she knew who the girl was. When Hermione had confirmed for herself this girl really was Lily Evans, she spoke the first words that appeared in her mind before she could stop herself.

"Lily Evans? But you're supposed to be dead!"

Lily Evans. Harry's mother. But how is that possible? Unless…

Hermione felt her eyes widen and her mouth almost drop when she reached the only possible explanation for what had happened.

The mirror. It must have sent me back in time! Oh no, the Mirror of Time, that's what it means! It's a time portal! I'm in the past.

Only when that last thought took form and upon seeing the look of bewilderment and horror on Lily's face, Hermione realised what she had said. Oh no…

"Wha…What do you mean, I can't very well be death if I'm standing here talking to you, can I?" Lily wasn't someone to be easily scared, but when some complete stranger pops up out of nowhere and proclaims you are 'supposed to be dead', everyone would feel shaken.

Hermione stared at Lily, desperately trying to figure out what to say to set this right, but not finding anything. At last, she realised there would be no believable excuse she could say to make her words undone, the only thing she could do, was to tell the girl standing before her the truth, at least part of it, and hope for the best.

But first we should find a place where we won't be disturbed.

Hermione took a breath and finally answered Lily as calmly as she could. "I'll explain everything to you, but let's first go some place more private."

Curiously, Lily followed the other girl, amazed as she realised a complete stranger appeared to know her way around the castle even better than herself, taking hidden passageways Lily didn't even know existed.

At last, they arrived back at the Room of Requirement, and Hermione asked for a private place where they wouldn't be disturbed or heard by anyone. She beckoned Lily into the room and closed the door behind them, but before Hermione could speak, Lily had already started.

"Are you going to tell me who you are now? Or I'll have to report you to Dumbledore. How come you know your way around here so well, when I've never seen you before?"

Hermione held up her hand, indicating Lily to be quiet, first she motioned Lily to sit down on one of the armchairs, which had appeared next to a blazing fire and around a small table with mugs filled with hot chocolate, then she sat down herself opposite the other girl, finally she started speaking.

"Firstly, my name is Hermione Granger and I know my way around this school, because I've been living here for more then six years."

"But," interrupted Lily her, "that's impossible, I've never seen you before or heard your name, and I'm pretty sure I know everyone in my year!"

Hermione sighed. "That's because I'm not really in your year." Lily frowned, but Hermione continued before the other could interrupt again. "It's true I should have been in my seventh year, but in fact I'm many years below you. I'm actually not even born yet now."

Lily's eyes grew big at this and Hermione took another deep breath before continuing.

"I'm from the future. I was investigating some curious objects in the Room of Requirement and I found a strange mirror, I accidentally touched it, and the next thing I remember, I was here. I hadn't planned to come here and if I had known I was in the past, I wouldn't have talked to anyone but tried to return right away."

Lily nodded in understanding, "I see, time-travel, that would explain a lot. Can I ask you a question?"

Hermione quickly shook her head. "No, you shouldn't ask me anything, I can't tell you anyway. Horrible things happen to people who meddle with time."

Lily sighed, "All right then. What are you going to do now?"

"I'm going to try and return right away. Please promise me you won't tell anyone about this, not even Dumbledore, not even J…your boyfriend."

Lily frowned. "I won't tell anyone. But I don't have a boyfriend, why would you say that?"

Hermione flushed. "Never mind. I should really go now."

She closed her eyes, thinking about the room where she had found the mirror, and the room around them started to change, a few moments later, they were in the storage room where she had started out this journey. It didn't take Hermione long to find her way to the mirror, where she could now clearly read on the frame the words The Mirror of Time.

Before Hermione could touch the mirror, Lily caught up to her. "Is this the mirror?"

Hermione nodded. Lily smiled, "All right then. Maybe I'll see you somewhere in the future." When Hermione looked away, Lily frowned, "Or not. How do I get out of here?"

Hermione quickly explained the way out to Lily and, making sure Lily wouldn't be able to ask any more questions, she hastily touched the ever swirling surface of the mirror. The next moment, Hermione felt herself once again being sucked into the mirror, swirling and whirling around.

000

When Hermione felt her feet touch the ground again, she opened her eyes and looked around her carefully. To her great relief, everything looked exactly as it had looked when she had left her time.

She left the Room of Requirement and walked swiftly through the school, scrutinizing every detail to make sure it was like it was supposed to be. If there was anything different, if she wasn't in her own time or if she had accidentally changed something, she would be in major trouble.

Finally she had reached her own rooms, where all her stuff still lay the way she had left them, she quickly pulled out her agenda and checked the date. September 17, 1997. Just like it had been when she had found the mirror. She was back.

With a sigh of relief, she let herself sink on her bed, deciding she had had enough excitement for quite some time. She wouldn't do anything for the next few hours, except reading and relaxing a bit. Pulling out a big volume she had brought with her from the library yesterday, she settled on her bed and started reading.

A few moments later, however, she was already interrupted, when a tapping on her window asked for her attention. Looking up, she recognised Hedwig, carrying a letter. Hermione quickly opened the window, allowing entrance to the owl. Hedwig dropped the letter on her bed and flew off, probably to take a nap in the now almost empty owl wing.

Hermione opened the letter and skimmed it quickly. Of course it came from Harry. Everything was all right, they hadn't found any more Horcruxes yet, Harry asked her if she had found out any more useful information (which she hadn't). He also apologised for not being able to be there for her birthday (which was in two days, on the 19th), and neither would Ron. Ron, by the way, sends his love, Harry wrote, and he promises to write soon himself. Hermione smiled, a week after Dumbledore's funeral, she and Ron had finally managed to express their feelings for each other and started dating.

Hermione decided she would reply to the letter later, since she didn't really have anything important to write. Except for the mirror, but since I'm not going to use it anymore, it can't really be considered important.

She returned to her bed and her book.

000

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