Slowly he walked towards Professor Sprout's green houses. Stopping at Greenhouse 3, he looked through the glass to see the class working hard. Sprout was smiling as she watched the students carefully pick through the Boozan flowers that were growing under her care. All the students were watching their roots intently, needing to make sure the sharp thorns didn't prick them. Not only would the tiniest prick hurt, it's could suck all life out of you in just a few short hours. But that's, of course, if you didn't go straight to Poppy first. Now, not everyone can sport a set of dragon hide gloves and apron to protect your hands, chest, and knees; even if you're sitting in dirt. Thus causing some of the students to look rather foolish.

He didn't really want to interrupt. Why disturb the whole class when they would be done in an hour or so? Because he knew that Hermione would run straight to the girls bathroom to finish her potion. He had checked on it while she was at potions that morning. All she needed to do was add some Boozan leaves (he figured she would take some extra from class if she didn't have them already) and lacewings and then the necessary skwahaes oil and she'd be off.

Gone.

Harry and Ron would come running to him. The other Professors would be sick with worry. And everyone would expect the worse. Voldemort kidnapped her in her sleep, some would say. Others would say that she had gone off on some insane mission so that beloved friends wouldn't get hurt in the final battle. And still others, (Slytherins) would say she'd finally realized her inferiority and fled the wizarding world.

Hermione's parents would have to hear of her disappearance. But perhaps he could have Minerva tell them instead. They'd want to know what happened. Why couldn't he have taken better care of their daughter, they will ask. Why wasn't he there to keep her safe? He was the Headmaster, after all, they would say. Hermione's mother would probably weep and her father would shake an angry fist, the veins in his forehead bulging profusely, before he would try and comfort his wife.

And what would he tell them? That their only daughter, their pride and joy, the pride and joy of the wizarding world as well, just decided one day to go to the past. That would probably earn him a severe slap, not only from Hermione's mother but Minerva as well, who would want to know why he didn't stop her if he knew what was going on.

But he couldn't stop her. If she didn't go now, she'd only try to go during the summer. Or any other time she'd get the chance to see the potion all over again and purchase the ingredients.

This wasn't the first time this stunt had been tried, by Hermione that is. He was lucky that like Gilderoy Lockhart his memory charms worked quite well. The first time she tried to go far into the past was in her third year when she first received her time turner. Just like when she found the novel by Valloriey Allsprand in the library, she'd come upon it in Diagon Alley. He'd caught her quicker that time. She had none of the required elements so he hadn't needed to dispose of anything afterward.

Then again in her fifth year a similar stunt was tried. This time though she received the book by a mysterious benefactor during the holiday season. He had taken the book away that time, when he caught her reading it in the great hall.

How the book had gotten into his library he did not know. But more and more he was beginning to understand that he couldn't stop Hermione from making the journey. He would just have to try and have her understand what she was doing. And perhaps she would make the correct choice to not go on her own. But no matter what, he could no longer try and stall her fate.

He knocked on the door.

"Excuse me Professor Sprout." Everyone turned to look at him. "I need to talk to Miss Granger if you can spare her." Professor Sprout nodded and the girl walked towards him, a questioning look plastered on her face. Closing the green house door behind her, Albus headed back to the school and his office, Hermione steps behind.

"Miss Granger, Hermione, it has come to my attention that you are brewing a potion in one of the girls lavatories."