Chapter Nine

Clover gave me the drink…but it was Sandie and Lily who were questioning me…

Hermione skidded across the sharp corner, narrowly missing the wall. Her hair sticking on her sweaty cheeks, she ran to the gargoyle.

She halted, her face pale, her hands shaking. She took a deep breath, and then finally said; "Lemon Drops."

The gargoyle swung open, and Hermione went in, her head bent so low that her chin touched her chest. Silent tears flowed down her cheeks as she headed up the staircase. Hermione was so miserable, even more miserable than when her parents died. Her thoughts were in turmoil; how could Sandie and Lily do that to her?

"Sir, can I come in?" asked Hermione, her voice sounding thick with heavy emotion. She was outside the door.

Dumbledore opened it, and in came Hermione, crying. She flopped down on the chair as if the life had been taken out of her.

"Miss Hart?" said Dumbledore, confused, as he sat down on his chair.

"T-they know," she gulped, her eyes stinging.

Dumbledore's eyebrows shot up, and then Hermione remembered he didn't know about her secret. She didn't know why, but she felt as if Dumbledore was letting her down.

"T-t-the G-Gryffindor students know I'm from the future."

She looked up, and was startled that Dumbledore gave no reaction whatsoever. But his eyes turned dark; they weren't as bright as they usually were.

"I can't give you my real name," Hermione murmured. "As that will be effecting the future even more. But I have one favour to ask you: make the Gryffindor students forget what just happened."

Dumbledore nodded, slowly. "I know what to do, Miss Hart. But that'll mean the Gryffindor students will forget everything about you. You will have to start all over again with them. Is that what you really want?"

No! Hermione screamed to herself. I don't want to ruin my friendship with the Marauders!

"Yes," she answered, inwardly cursing herself, for choosing the cowardly way out. "Yes please; that'll be perfect."

000

"We have a new student," announced Dumbledore, smiling around at the Gryffindor students, who were all standing up in the Common Room. It had been three, tearful hours since he cast the spell.

The students gazed at her with faces full of curiosity; none of them held any recognition. Hermione wanted to wither and die.

"Hi, I'm Pertida Hart, an exchange student from Durmstrang school," Hermione lied, in a soft voice.

She spotted Sirius from the crowd and he gave her a wink. Hermione felt sick to the stomach, even though the Veritaserum revealed she had a crush on him.

She responded that wink with a very dark glare, and Sirius blinked. He was clearly shocked.

Arrogant pig, Hermione thought.

Dumbledore continued with his speech: "Please make Pertida feel very welcome." He turned and left. Hermione smiled awkwardly.

To her surprise, Lily stepped in. Her red hair brightened the whole room. "Hi, I'm Lily Evans, and behind me is Sandie Cross," she introduced, holding out her hand.

Hermione shook it with hesitation. She couldn't get over the fact that Sandie and Lily (she believed it was they who somehow made Clover give her the goblet) had made her lose her special friendship with the Marauders. But then she realized it was before she had had the little spat with Sandie. Perhaps…perhaps she could help Lily get together with James?

"A decision…there is a decision to make…and you're the only one who can fulfil it…"

"Pertida? Pertida?" repeated Lily, uncertainly. Hermione was brought back from the vision. Her eyes dazed, she noticed her hand had turned limp, as she was still shaking hands with Lily.

Hermione blushed as she drew her hand away. Lily smiled at her.

"Welcome to Hogwarts."

000

That night Hermione went to bed straight away. Of course, she was disturbed when the voice came to her when she shook Lily's hand. Would that dream haunt her forever and ever?

When she got up the next morning, Sandie greeted her.

"Did you sleep alright?" she ordered, but in a light way. Hermione's mouth fell open.

"I guess."

Sandie grinned. "Good. Classes today. You scared?"

Hermione started to shake her head, but then she nodded. She was surprised about Sandie. She was sure Sandie would still be mean, spat or not.

"Well, it's obvious that you'd be scared," Sandie remarked, arrogantly. "Here, let me see your timetable."

Hermione gave Sandie her timetable. "I'm in all your classes! Brilliant!" she squeaked. Hermione wasn't so sure.

"Look, I'll be your guide. Lily has half of these classes. Excellent!"

"Do you always end your sentences with a good mood word?" Hermione requested, amused by Sandie's happy reaction.

Sandie frowned. "Nu-uh. When I'm angry, you don't want to be in my bad books."

Hermione's mouth tightened. Just my luck I've already been down that end.

000

The Marauders confronted her that night. Hermione wanted to avoid this meeting, but she knew it would happen.

Sirius was in lead. He wore a cocky smirk, which somehow didn't suit his face. How did Hermione never see this side of Sirius when he was her 'guide'? Did he keep it from her?

Then she remembered the night when she arrived to the past Hogwarts. She remembered how the past Sirius reacted to her. Is that how he really is?

Or is he just insecure, just as lost in the big world as Hermione was? Was he the same, nervous person she was? Still was? The one who laughed and right after you expected something bad to happen?

"Hi, love."

At once Hermione knew she was wrong.

A/n: I liked that chapter! By the way, any characters you don't recognize e.g: Sandie, Bridget, Clover, they're mine. Feel free to give me any: tips/praise/ideas in a...REVIEW!

Thanks to:

Jacc: thanks! ghilliekitten: thanks CrystalShard: will do Padfoot's Sidekick: lol…yeah hogwartsgrl52: here it is OnerousOrangutang: ah…now you know ForgottenIceTea: thanks xxx amrawo: yeah…. The Gryffindor Drummer: hehe….thanks swirlywhirlynutcase: that chappie was one of my favs…I'm not sure, but I might…. Little mimi: thanks Aussie Trebs: Same as, but I pretty much had the idea when I first started the story Amaherst: yeah…. Mizu-Magaru-Sensei: thanks, and here it is! chattypandagurl: I suppose. Padfootsvampirehuntress: lol…aww, they're not that bad! Enchantedlight: thanks Alis Black: yeah, it was a bit short, but if it was longer, then you wouldn't have had this quick update! Thanks.