Chapter 2

Regulus Black sat under a tree, a few meters from the shore of the lake. It was his spot now, after years of returning there to think. The tree was the closest to the water, it was big enough to hide him from anyone passing by, and it gave him the best view of the entire lake.

He sighted loudly and smiled feeling the warmth of the sun on his face, he did it knowing there was no one around. Everyone was at the feast, as they all would be returning home the next day. He left early sure that nobody would come looking for him.

Regulus was recognised in Hogwarts first and foremost for his family. The noble house of Black was well known for their views on blood purity. He was also known as the younger brother of Sirius. Yes, his older brother was popular for the mischief he got up to with his gang of the idiots.

Regulus rolled his eyes in irritation. He preferred his own company or a company of a good book. His ways that were so opposite to his brother, made the empty-headed population of Hogwarts gossip.

He was very aware of all the rumours about him. They were rumours going around about him becoming a dark wizard, a death eater, some said he was killing muggles as a hobby, and that he killed a muggleborn witch, because she accidentally bumped into him. That had all muggleborn students of Hogwarts avoid him, as well as many half-bloods from all houses, including his own.

Sadly, that didn't stop some brave or rather foolish witched from trying to ask him out. He always declined with manners of a gentleman but his distant attitude and cold appearance made them leave in a hurry.

He was well respected within his own house but he made sure to make no friends. It was a difficult time to make friends you could trust with your life, and any other ones were only an unnecessary baggage. You couldn't know for sure if someone wouldn't use your weakness against you If it came to saving their own life, not that Regulus would blame anyone, but he preferred if no one knew his weaknesses because then nobody could use them against him. It was the safest way. Besides he knew he would not hesitate to sell anyone out if it came to saving his family. They were in the middle of the war after all.

Regulus did not want to go home. His older brother Sirius has been totally indoctrinated by those revolting blood traitors and mudbloods he called friends. He knew what their respectable parents think of such inappropriate connections.

The impending confrontation between his mother and his brother was something Regulus did not look forward to. He knew it was going to happen as soon as they return home, because in the letter he was holding in his hand, their mother, made it clear that Sirius's behaviour would no longer be tolerated as he is of the right age to look for a good match.

The feeling of dread when thinking of returning home was something Regulus could not get rid of. Asking Sirius to marry a suitable girl was something that was going to permanently damage their family as his older brother would never agree. For Walburga Black there was only one type of a girl for her son to marry and everything she looked for in a girl was everything Sirius wanted to avoid.

Ever since Sirius was sorted into Gryffindor, the relationship between them began to change. They grew more distant as Regulus tried to convince Sirius that his actions were wrong and it would only lead to problems, not to mention he was slowly turning away from the family because of sodding Potter and Lupin.

His reckless brother was foolish enough to think he could just go and change sides and there would be no consequences. Regulus felt the anger rise in his chest as he looked at the letter.

And there it was, the fire to the match that will set off the dynamite of the noble house of Black, and it will explode as soon as he and Sirius get home.

Sirius never read the letters from their parents so they stopped writing to him, but Regulus saw him get a letter in a characteristic black envelope, yesterday at the same time Regulus received the letter he was currently re-reading over and over again. But Sirius set it on fire as soon as it got in his hands and laughed with Potter and Lupin.

His brother was really frustrating. Regulus never approached him in school anymore because he was always with those disgusting friends of his, but this one time it was too urgent, it couldn't wait.

As soon as he read the letter he went over to Sirius with all the formality he could gather to warn him. Sirius was becoming more distant from his and their family, but Regulus still cared about his older brother, no matter how reckless and shameful his actions were. Sirius' reaction to the warning was far from ideal, but he could only hope his pig-headed brother would see the light and embrace the family traditions. For all their sakes.

Looking out onto the lake in silence, he got up and began to walk towards the platform that went into the water. He would go there sometimes to talk to the merpeople. They kept to themselves usually, and disliked anyone coming anywhere close to their home, they were secluded and thought of as monsters by a large portion of the wizarding population, so naturally they had much in common - Regulus thought.

He sat down on the edge of the platform and threw a few harmless lighting spells into the depth of the water hoping the merpeople were in the mood to talk to him. He sent another flare of spells down the lake and waited.

After over a half an hour of waiting, Regulus decided they didn't want to be disturbed today. Which was fair, considering how long he spent in the lake the day before. He was invited into the depths of the lake and didn't leave for long hours as he and two merpeople were testing some dark magic under the water. Their communication was pretty basic and largely relied on gestures and spells. Regulus was smart enough to convince them that he was worth their time and that they had something to gain from his little venture.

He planned this for weeks, he placed a few dark artefacts he collected in the reef of the lake. The reef shaped into a ring, so it looked like an underwater portal. For him it was an experiment, but the merpeople were mostly interested in the acoustic qualities. Having those twelve objects placed like the numbers on a clock, made them mirror each other. It so far has proven to reflect the spells well, increasing their effectiveness. He was also able to create a massive and a strong air bubble over the ring, which was pretty amazing considering the waters he was in and the depth of it.

Today he wanted to try out a few new spells but it didn't look like his plans were going to work. Last thing he wanted was to anger the merpeople, magical creatures were complex, they must have had a good reason for turning him away today, besides he respected personal space way too much to act without the consideration of it. Regulus decided he would have to continue his experiments after summer.

He was getting up thinking how to spend the rest of his afternoon, when a blast of warm air with a breeze of strong magical push went through him making him freeze. He looked into the water and saw someone underneath the surface, but they seemed to be slowly drifting down. Whoever it was. They were drowning. Recognising the school robes he jumped into the water in attempt to help. He swam closer to them and realised it was a girl. He put his arms around her unconscious form, held her tightly and pointed his wand upwards, his non-verbal magic wasn't perfect yet but it was enough to pull them out of the water.

Falling onto the platform, both dripping wet, he got on his knees and pressed on a spot between her stomach and her rib cage. Suddenly her eyes opened and she rolled onto her side coughing up water. Regulus saw she was a Gryffindor, but despite his personal feeling about the foolish house he stayed with her. Maybe she would go around and spread some rumours about him trying to drown her. Every day was a good day to polish up his reputation.

His eyes rested on an object hanging around her neck. Regulus never held one in his hand but he read enough books to know it was a time tuner, but it looked slightly burnt. Was it broken?

"Are you okay?" He finally asked the girl he just saved.

"I'm *cough* fine" She replied, still coughing up water.

"What happened?" He asked looking at her with his grey eyes. She was quite pretty.

"I fell into the lake, Malfoy and I were…" She stopped half sentence and suddenly looked around. "Where is he? Has he just left me here to drown? That foul loathsome evil little cockroach, when I get my hands on him he will regret he.." She stopped again with her eyes locked on his, she must have realised she didn't recognise him. He saw her look at his uniform and register the Slytherin green. Her eyes wondered back onto his face.

"May I ask what is your name? I don't think I've seen you around, also er thank you for saving me, not many Slytherins would have done that, I owe you one."

"Regulus" He provided shortly, analysing her still. "Is that a time tuner around your neck?" He decided to throw it out there. She mentioned Malfoy, and the one he knew was way older than him and her from what he could tell, she looked around his age. He never paid much attention to girls, but she didn't know who he was, and it was quite odd, judging by the extensive gossip about him that circled round the castle.

The girl looked down and seeing the state of the object she gasped.

"Oh no, Professor McGonagall will kill me! She gave it to me so I could attend more classes, but why is it burnt like this? I fell into water it makes no sense" So she knows McGonagall, she can't have travelled too far then.

"It looks like it has been, overused. By any chance, is it possible that you have accidentally travelled forward in time?" The girl only blinked. "What's the exact date for you?"

"It is 27th June 1994" She said with confidence, and Regulus let out the breath he was holding.

"Well, it looks like I was wrong. You did not travel to the future" He told her and watched as she relaxed. He smirked as he was about to drop a bomb on her. "But today's date is 27th June 1975, I think you travelled back in time"

Regulus watched as her eyes have gone wide. She stared at him trying to process exactly what he said.

"I'm sorry, could you repeat that please?"

"27th June 1975"

"1975" She repeated after him "Nineteen years back in time" She whispered and lied back down on the platform they still sat on.

After the initial shock has gone down, the girl began to think more clearly and asked him who the headmaster was and other quite relevant things, which was quite impressible considering her situation.

They were now walking back to the castle in silence, Regulus offered to take her to the Hospital Wing. Time travel was dangerous enough as it was, not to mention such a long distance. Not that he was worried about her, but he decided to stick around out of pure curiosity.

Moreover, she was from the future. Maybe she could tell him something interesting about the world in nineteen years.

"I'm Hermione Granger" She said suddenly. "Sorry, I only just remembered I never introduced myself"

Well, Granger was not a pureblood name. Hardly shocking judging by the house she was sorted into. She must then be either a halfblood or a mudblood. The thought alone that someone of such dirty blood was able to pull time travel and to this magnitude, was revolting. He could only hope his ancestors would understand his scientific approach to the situation, and would forgive him this shameful act of courtsey towards the vermin. Hopefully his parents wouldn't have it in them to disown both sons.

Thankfully the corridors were all empty as everyone was still at the feast. Last thing Regulus would want was to be seen with a Gryffindor girl of impure blood. It would stain his reputation. Not that anyone would know who she was by the looks of it, she would not have been born yet for another few years.

They finally made it to the Hospital Wing, and he had Hermione sit on one of the beds. He told her to wait and he went to fetch Mademe Pomfrey and the headmaster.

Hermione watched him walk away. As soon as he was out of sight her breathing quickened. She could feel what sort he was. He belonged to the same group of wizards Draco Malfoy did; rich, privilieged and she suspected he was deep into the blood status crap too. She was glad when he didn't react strongly to her name, which was so obviously muggle.

It was a fake surname but she was a muggle born in all the essence of the word. Her family might be druids, but they were under an ancient curse. Her family… how ridiculous of her was it to judge him on his privilege when she herself belonged to one of the oldest and richest families in Britain. She grew up with just as much privilege as she suspected he did from the way he carried himself.

The Greenfell Family… she could find them. But what would she say? Her parents were not even married yet. And the only person she knew in this time was Regulus, the Slytherin boy who saved her life and was strangely enough still kind to her despite knowing her blood. And she knew he did. There might not have been a strong reaction from him but she knew he was aware.

She had to think, how much she could reveal to the headmaster before Regulus returned with him. Should she alter her appearance? She had no doubt she would return to her time once her time tuner was fixed, but would that mean they would remember her in the future from their past? Would she have to obliviate them? Time Travel was incredibly complex and with her head feeling as drowsy she couldn't focus on what to do next.

Before she knew, her eyes closed and she could think no more.

"Hermione… Wake up… Wake up" She heard before she opened her eyes. Why were her eyes closed? Was she asleep?

She slowly blinded away the sleep in her eyes and pushed herself up with her arms, sitting up on the bed she just accidentally slept on.

"Sorry, I must have drifted off for few minutes" She said trying to wake up still. She felt very sleepy. Regulus passed her a mug with hot ginger tea.

"Actually, you have been asleep since yesterday. It is now late morning." He said with some amusement apparent in his voice. "I brought Madame Pomfrey and the headmaster, but you refused to wake up and they decided it was best to let you sleep. After you drink your tea I will take you to the Dumbledore's office, I'm sure he and McGonagall are already waiting there and discussing what to do with you. I did reveal to them when you came from as they would not stop pressing for details, however that is all I have given them along with your name. I'm sure they have a lot of questions for you."

Hermione sighted in resignation after listening to him. She couldn't believe she fell asleep, it was so reckless of her. She drank the tea he gave her; it was naturally sweet with a slight spice that instantly warmed her up. It was very good. She looked at him and saw that he was sitting in a chair next to her bed. He was not in his school robes but in some rather fine upper class wizarding clothing. He looked like a rich young lord from Regency England. She then remembered it was the day everyone was returning home for the summer. He must have been all ready to return home so why was he still here with her?

"Shouldn't you be on the train?" She asked wondering why this mysterious Slytherin was so attentive to her.

"Train isn't all that interesting, there are other ways for me to return home. It would be rather rude to leave you here all on your own when I'm the only person you know in this time"

"Excuse me being so frank, but why are you here really? Why are you so kind to me? You don't even know me and Slytherins don't look after strangers. You do not fool me for one second. All the graces you put on scream pure blood and I'm sure you are by now very aware of my own blood status. I'm not nearly ignorant enough to think you are doing all this just to be nice and you are not as discreet as you think you are so out with it. What's your motive?"

He looked at her for a few seconds and chuckled. She watched his moved like a hawk as he got up, walk over to her and never breaking the eye contact he sat down on the bed next to her. He was very handsome.

"It is truly insulting how clever you are." He said with a smirk "I do find it fascinating that someone of your blood has enough talent to time travel this far back and come out unscratched. It is truly inspiring you suspect I have a vested interest in being polite to you, but it is simply how I was raised"

Mhm… Right.

"I wasn't born yesterday you know. I am very well acquainted with how wizards like yourself, think of me. I might be from the future but not much has changed in that regard. Just because you don't call me a mudblood to my face doesn't change the fact that I don't trust you. I'm grateful you saved my life but I'm not naïve, when a Slytherin goes out of his way to help a Gryffindor, something's not right"

"Are you sure you're a Gryffindor?" He finally asked with amusement gracing his facial features, but Hermione could sense he was conflicted.

Regulus could freely say he never met anyone like her. How has she managed to see through his facade so quickly when he provided her with no information about himself whatsoever. She couldn't have heard any rumours since she hasn't spoken to anyone here yet. All she had was his first name and the house he belonged to. Perhaps she was just as prejudiced against him as he was against her?

What a worthy opponent, he thought. Almost. She was after all just a mudblood, there was nothing worthy about her. But he had to admit her personality was an enigma. Despite himself, he decided to trust her a little. Maybe this tiny sacrifice would pay off in the long run.

"I wasn't lying, you coming here from 1994 really did interest me. I believe in the power of books Miss Granger, however a girl as clever as yourself can't deny it is a one in a life time opportunity to learn from someone who experienced it. You came from 19 years in the future. How can I not be curious?

After knowing you for barely a day, I can already see some of your character in not so different to my own thus I won't hold any hopes of learning too much of the future events. We wouldn't want to endanger the timeline and many lives that would no doubt be affected if we were to accidentally change something. I can see you yourself are not sure how you got here, but if you agree to help me work that out, I promise to help you return home. My interests here are purely scientific and I risk the wrath of my family in consorting with someone of your kind. I can't be any more honest than this."

He observed her face in an attempt to read for any reaction in her features. There was none. He found himself constantly surprised by this girl. It was a skill to mask one's feelings as well as she did. Either way, he lacked experience in interaction with mudbloods but he expected her to lash out at him for insulting her. Hermione did really have a habit of surprising him, and he knew her barely a day.

"Deal" She smirked ever so slightly but it was enough for him to wonder whether she was sorted into the wrong house.