"Tell me what you see Hermione." She barely registered him putting his hand on her shoulder to comfort her. Again her world was spinning.

"How does this mirror show my dreams?" she murmured. "Turning to look at the Headmaster she asked, "Is this what you have been using to know what I have been dreaming of?"

Surprisingly to her he chuckled softly and in the darkness she could see the sparkle in his eyes get brighter. "No, the Mirror of Erised is not used as a spying device," he laughed again. "No, this Mirror does a far greater thing; it shows up our hearts most felt desire. Now tell me, what do you see?"

She looked back to the mirror; did she really want to tell him? 'Oh get a grip Hermione, it's not like he doesn't already know..'

She was standing there in the mirror and the man from her dreams walked up to her and kneeled in front of her. She then offered him her hand to help him up but instead he kissed her palm. The blush on her mirror face was so intense; she could feel the heat crawling up her face from her toes. He started to get up and he placed another kiss on the inside of her elbow. It almost tickled her arm to watch this. After he was again to his full height he leaned towards her to place a kiss, more a of a love nip on her neck. She could feel her own neck bruising slightly from the contact as if some invisible fore was mimicking the man's actions. Then he pulled her close to place one last kiss on her lips.

"I see the man from my dreams, Headmaster." her voice barely above a whisper. She blushed again. "We… we're talking and then we're dancing." It was a little white lie. He didn't really have to know that personal a detail.

Albus raised an eyebrow. "I see," was all he said in reply.

He wondered if she would ask what he saw in the mirror. He had told Harry once he saw himself holding a new pair of socks but that was farthest from the truth.

What he saw was similar to what Hermione was seeing though he couldn't be completely sure how much she was hiding from him. He saw a beautiful young woman in a long flowing gown of deep burgundy. Her hair was loose along her shoulders and hung freely down her back. Her hair was a chocolate color and seemed to be a mess of tight, kinky curls. You couldn't see her face that well in the darkness of the room but Albus had her face etched into his mind.

"Hermione, if we'll head back to my office, there is one last thing I'd like to show you before you go and complete your potion."

She didn't want to leave the mirror. Having to tear her eyes away from it hurt. But she nodded and turned to face Albus. "Yes Headmaster. I will follow right behind."

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They were back in his office and Hermione watched the Headmaster intently as he fingered through some parchment. They had again walked in silence when they headed back to his office. The only difference was this time Hermione lead the way through the halls, not smiling or even looking at anyone who passed by.

"Do you plan on keeping the same name when you leave Hermione?" It was her turn to raise an eyebrow as he placed a document looking like a birth certificate on his desk.

"Well yes I suppose so."

"And what were you planning on saying about your family?" His fingers were working fast as his quill ran over the paper. It seemed to Hermione that the quill was quite a bit ahead of the Headmaster.

"Well, I don't know. I didn't give it much thought." A sigh was her only reply.

She blushed slightly ashamed. What was she thinking? How could she just lie to everyone around her without getting caught up in it all? Even now she was running scenarios through her head. What would happen if she couldn't keep up with the façade?

"Headmaster," she interrupted causing him to look up from the parchment, "I thought you said you had something to show me."

He smiled, the twinkle in his eye was reassuring. "All in good time. Let's get these papers done first."

In the end Hermione Granger was still, Hermione Granger. She was born on the same date and time and even in the same town. The only difference was the year. She was still a muggleborn and she would receive ridicule for it (perhaps more for the time period). She still looked the same and had the same personality. But now she was a transfer student from Plexion Academy which was hidden in the Mongolian Alps. Why she ended up going to a school in Mongolia was beyond her but the Headmaster was adamant about it.

"There will be no chance of any teachers or the Headmaster checking up on you and your school records."

She would complete the schedule of a seventh year and take any and all tests/tasks assigned to her. Albus even went as far as to perform the Notgue Charm on her to make her years in the Alps more believable. While she didn't have the slightest accent she could fluently speak in any language.

For about the hundredth time in the last half hour the Headmaster went over all of Hermione's records. He also proceeded to test her on some of the harder parts, such as names of Professors at Plexion.

"Headmaster please!" she was growing impatient. Looking at the clock that leaned on the wall near Fawkes' perch she noticed she only had a little more time before her potion would be ruined. "Are you trying to keep me here by ruining the potion I have worked so hard on the past few weeks."

Albus then turned as well to look at the clock. Again he sighed. "That was not my intention, Miss Granger." Slowly he rose from his chair and walked away from his desk. With a quick wave of his wrist he managed to pull the chair Hermione was sitting in right next to his pensive.

"Miss Granger, I have many memories inside this pensive. And not all are good. In ones lifetime we are plagued with decisions from our past but they help shape our future. Human beings are not born wise, Miss Granger. It's our good deeds that help to add value to our souls. What I want you to look at now are the memories of someone who has long since passed from this world. And this you must do before I let you leave here."

She nodded once trying to understand everything he had just said. Then almost as slowly as the Headmaster had just walked she rose from her chair and sunk into the pensive.

Plexion is my face wash :blushes: yes I know a stupid name for a school but I was stuck for a name so deal with it! lol Notgue tongue