DISCLAIMER: Deep in the jungle there lies a mountainous tree with millions upon millions of leaves. Every year, one leaf falls off. By the time the last leaf falls, I will still not own Harry Potter.

Summary: Through the barrier and into…a different time? Hermione finds herself in the Marauder's time. In a story of hate, lies, and hurt, Hermione finds something else….love.

Chapter 2:

September 1st, Trio's final year at Hogwarts '1996-1997'

"Hermione!" A voice called from behind her. She spun around and found her best friend, Harry Potter, running towards her. She smiled at him as she looked him up and down.

He had grown quite a bit over the summer. Muscles now filled out his shirt, a reward from the popular wizarding sport, Quidditch, Hermione was sure, and he looked more confident than ever. He had grown taller too, and looked a full six foot two.

"Hey Harry," Hermione greeted him. He swept her up in a hug and she held him tight. "You look well. You've grown quite handsome if I may say so myself."

"Thank you," Harry smiled at her. Then he looked at her, his eyes growing slightly as he took in her new figure and look. "You look amazing."

She blushed. She had grown up over the summer into a woman as her father told her. Her hair had grown to her waist and hung in lose curls, the weight taking out the bushiness. Her body developed curves and a little muscle from all the exercises she had been doing, preparing for the war.

"Thank you," she replied earnestly, secretly rejoicing that he had noticed the change. She looked around the group of students hanging around the platform. "Where's Ron?"

"Oh, he's coming. Lupin brought me," he motioned to the side where, sure enough, there stood Lupin. "I stayed with him at the Black House most of the summer."

"Really? I bet you guys were busy cleaning." Hermione forced the smile on her lips though she felt hurt that she hadn't been invited to either the Burrow or the Black House.

"Yeah, the place sure looks better."

At Harry's enthusiasm, Hermione lightened up. It was an odd occurrence to see a smile upon Harry's face. The previous year, Harry had grown more forlorn with each death listen in the Daily Prophet, blaming each on himself.

Whatever had happened over the summer, Hermione admitted, did good for Harry. He was different. He was…happier and more secure in himself.

Lupin, of course, took over full guardianship of Harry though he needed not to. Harry was seventeen, a legal adult in the wizarding world. But Harry had needed someone there, though he would not admit it, and Lupin was the perfect candidate. Lupin could calm Harry and get through to Harry when very few could.

Of course, with Lupin's resent engagement to Tonks, Harry would always have a good laugh seeing as how Tonks was always where Lupin was. Tonks' clumsiness hit an all time high since all her thoughts were preoccupied with a certain werewolf and she never watched where she was going.

"Harry! Hermione!" Ron shouted as he wheeled his trolley up to them. "Wow… Hermione….," he let out a low whistle of appreciation which made her blush.

"Do I really look that different?" she asked honestly, her face still burning.

"Hermione," Ron started, "have you looked in a mirror lately?"

She blushed some more and decided to change the subject. "What did you do all summer Ron?" Her eyes quickly scanned Harry's face, looking for any clue that he had, in fact, wished he could spend the summer with the Weasley's. She found none.

"The normal stuff. Fought with Ginny, argued with Percy, cleaned, played Quidditch. You know, the normal stuff," Ron answered, his tone bored but his expressions showed that he would not trade the little time he had with his family for anything in the world.

Hermione smiled, "Sounds interesting."

Ron scoffed. "Hardly. I hate having Percy back. Instead of being brought down from his little pedestal he was on, he thinks himself even more important now."

Harry and Hermione shared a knowing look. Both of them knew that no matter how much the other Weasley children protested to Percy, they each loved him…deep down.

"I'm sor…oh bugger!" Hermione exclaimed.

"What is it?" Harry asked.

"I forgot my own book. My mum has it." Hermione ran a hand through her hair, glancing first at the barrier wall and then at the clock which read 10:50. Do you think I have time to go get it?"

"You better hurry," Harry told her.

Hermione nodded at each of them before rushing back to the barrier and running through it. Luckily for her, her mum had came back to the barrier with the book and was waiting for her.

"I saw this on the backseat and knew you would absolutely have to have it," Ann Granger told her daughter, her eyes rolling at the 'have to have it' part.

Hermione chuckled, "Thanks mum."

"You really should try to not leave things lying around," Mrs. Granger told her daughter sternly, but her eyes held amusement.

"I'll try to remember it the next time mum," Hermione replied before turning around. "Thanks again mum," she called as she rushed back to the barrier.

She ran through the barrier at a full sprint, then stopped. Something was different….

"Oy Prongs! Over here!"

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Dumbledore sat in his office, staring at the clock as it reached 10:55 a.m. It was time.

He rose from his chair and walked over to the perch upon which sat a beautiful phoenix, its' bright eyes watching the Headmaster carefully.

"I've got a job for you Fawkes," Dumbledore said to the phoenix. "I need you to fetch Minerva for me as quickly as possible. Don't stop badgering her till she comes up."

The phoenix nodded its' head and disappeared in a fit of flames. Dumbledore merely walked back to his desk calmly and took a seat.

He knew it would happen and so it did. It was not his position to interfere in what was meant to be, he only hoped Harry and Ron would understand.

He remembered it like it was yesterday. A girl, so familiar yet so different, came to him and told him many things he could not believe, yet knew in the pit of his stomach.

He had been expecting her long before she came, though he could not explain it. Somehow he had known she would show up.

The weight she carried on her shoulders had astounded him, yet she carried it well, with her chin held high. Her confidence in herself had drew many to her, one in particular.

Yes, she would fight that particular battle well but in the end, amor vincit omnia, love conquers all. Love always found a way to win the battle.

A soft squawk alerted Dumbledore to Fawkes return, no doubt Minerva would come next, though her mood would not be as happy as the red phoenix.

The door opened swiftly and Minerva McGonagall in all her brazen glory strode into the Headmaster's office, her jade green robes swirling around her.

"You summoned me Albus?" she asked stiffly, clearly perturbed that Dumbledore's phoenix familiar would not leave her alone until she came to his office.

"Yes, Minerva, I did," Dumbledore said, his eyes locking onto hers. "It has happened."

Minerva paused and stared at him, her eyes wide. "You mean…..?"

"Yes, she has went back," Dumbledore confirmed.

The Transfiguration teacher's face grew pale as she fell into a nearby chair, the weight of the situation impacting her hard. Her eyes were still staring widely at the aging man in front of her. "How long…..?"

Dumbledore sighed. "Things will start changing soon, you know that. The longer she stays back in time, the more things that change."

"Will things be different this time?"

Dumbledore sat back in his chair and shook his head gravely. "I'm afraid not Minerva. You know the rules, we cannot interfere with what happens."

"But Albus…"

"No Minerva. The things that happen, happen for a reason. Hermione has a mission, though neither her nor I know the full extreme of it. Whatever happens, happens."

The Professor gave a quiet sob and placed her head in her hands, letting her emotions overcome her. "This is….it's just….I was hoping….."

Dumbledore rose, walking over to the Deputy Headmistress. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and said softly, "We all were, Minerva, we all were."

Minerva raised her head to meet his steady gaze. "But….why her?"

Dumbledore shrugged. "I don't believe we'll ever fully understand that. The only thing we can do not is wish her luck and watch the changes."

"Do…do you think that she'll change the time line that much?"

Dumbledore walked over to the window and stared out into the night. There were so many things that lurked in the darkness, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

Harry Potter would be arriving this year for his last and final year. The young boy had already been through so much and yet…yet he was still whole.

He didn't know the truth, though, Dumbledore acknowledged. He didn't know the full extremity of the war that was looming down on them.

Dumbledore turned his head and looked back at his most trusted friend. "I believe that by the time she gets through with the past, we might have a chance at winning."

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A/N: I promise, solemnly promise, that the next chapter will be longer. To answer a few questions: NO, I'm not telling you who Ria is…that's a secret that you'll only find out later. The beginning does not mean that this story will have an unhappy ending. It could or could not have a happy ending. I'm keeping my lips closed on this one….. Oh, and NO, this does NOT have any link what-so-ever to Promises of Tomorrow or All My Yesterdays. This is a completely different story in itself.

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