Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Chapter Four
Hermione knocked softly on the door to Dumbledore's office. She felt her hands trembling as she took a steadying breath.
"Come in." The voice inside answered. Hermione opened the door and stepped into the familiar office. Dumbledore looked up as she entered.
"Uh… hello, sir." She murmured.
"Can I help you?" He asked.
"Um… this is going to sound a little crazy, sir but I promise it's true. Just, please sir, hear me out and don't send me to St. Mungos." Hermione started to regain her usual confidence. After all, since when did Dumbledore laugh at the strange happenings of people's lives?
"I will listen before sending you anywhere, I promise. Now, please, sit and tell your story." Dumbledore smiled.
"Thank you, sir," Hermione sat and began her story, "First, you have to know. I'm not from around here. In fact, I'm not from this time…"
ZxZxZxZxZxZx
"So you see, Professor, that's how I ended up here. Or… in this time. What year is it by the way?" Hermione had been talking for several minutes and her voice was starting to fade.
"1976," The headmaster complied. Hermione sighed and rubbed her forehead, "That is quite a story, Miss…?"
"Granger, sir." Hermione told him.
"Miss Granger and I assure you, I believe you. The Ministry has been working on time turners for several years now. I'm not familiar with the inner workings as it is a classified project but the Minister has informed me of the idea."
"So… can you… can you send me back?" Hermione asked, cautiously, dreading the answer. He cleared his throat.
"As of this moment, no," Hermione's heart dropped, "But, I'm sure it would only take a little while for us to find some way or another. I came across a chant recently that had something to do with traveling through time. If I can find it again, I'm sure we could do something for your predicament." Dumbledore smiled. Hermione sighed.
"Thank you, Professor." She smiled back at the old man.
"Now, since you will be staying in this time for a while, we must work a few things out. You will obviously want to take your same classes to keep up. We're only a few weeks into the school year so you should have no problem catching up. Now, if you could just write down your classes for me." He handed her a piece of parchment and a quill.
"Of course, sir." Hermione quickly wrote down the classes she had planned to take and handed the paper back.
"Next, we must think up a proper story to be the reason for your sudden arrival in our school. You are my great-niece from northern England. Your parents died when you were very young and you have been living with my brother, Abel, since then. He, however, died recently, which is true sadly and you have come here to live with me. I will take care of any expenses you have." Dumbledore finished with another smile.
"So, I will call you… Uncle Albus?" Hermione asked.
"What else would a niece call her uncle?" Dumbledore laughed softly.
"Um… Uncle Albus, how do I explain showing up, bleeding?" She bit her lip.
"Ah, yes. Madame Pomfrey told me you arrived rather suddenly. Let me see… I know. A portkey that went awry. It sent you to the wrong place." Dumbledore said.
"But why was I bleeding?" Hermione asked.
"It was a glass orb. Bad planning on the person who preformed the spell. It shattered during the trip. Unfortunate but these things happen." Dumbledore nodded satisfied with this explanation.
"That makes sense." Hermione croaked her throat very dry.
"In your time, what House are you in?" Dumbledore questioned.
"Gryffindor. Please don't make me be sorted again." Hermione pleaded, suddenly anxious for something to stay the same.
"No, no. I was just curious. You will be in the same House. I believe we have thought of everything," Dumbledore paused for a moment, "You just need things for school. You studied with my brother until now so you need everything. A trunk, of course, plus books, quills, parchment, potions supplies and if you wish, an owl. Since today is Saturday, we can floo to Diagon Alley tomorrow."
"I also need clothes, sir." Hermione informed him.
"Of course you do. We will find those in Diagon Alley as well. Until then, I believe you have a Miss Lily Evans in your dormitory. She will most likely lend you something for the trip. Now, everything is settled. Professor McGonagall will give you your schedule on Monday at breakfast and there should already be a bed in the Girl's Dormitory for you. Good day, Hermione." Dumbledore smiled.
"Good day, Uncle Albus." Hermione stood up and turned towards the door.
"Oh, and Hermione," She looked back at her 'uncle', "No one should know any story but the one we have decided today. If anyone were to find out, the time stream would be altered permanently and the results could be catastrophic."
"I understand." Hermione answered, paling considerably.
"Good. I will see you tomorrow at 8:00 in the Entrance Hall." Dumbledore returned to his paperwork. Hermione left, feeling even more shaken then before.
ZxZxZxZxZxZx
Remus was the only one waiting when Hermione stepped off the staircase. He smiled at her which she returned, hiding her shaking hands behind her back. She bit her lip.
"I'm staying in Gryffindor." She murmured, unsure of what to stay.
"Oh, good. I'm in Gryffindor as well. My friends are too." Remus smiled again, still looking at her curiously.
"You can ask." Hermione offered.
"Oh, thank you," He let out a sigh of relief which caused her to laugh, "First of all, who are you?" Just then, she stubbed her toe rather painfully on one of the stones.
"Oh, damn. I forgot to ask for shoes," Hermione pulled out her wand and conjured a pair of black slip-ons before continuing, "First of all, I am Hermione Dumbledore. Uncle Albus is my great uncle. I've been staying with my grandpa since I was five but he died recently and I had no where else to go."
"That sucks." Remus murmured.
"Yeah. There's been a lot of death in my family. My parents died when I was young which is why I was living with my grandpa." Hermione thought back to all the death in her time and felt tears welling up in her eyes.
"Oh, here." Remus pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket. Hermione gave a wet laugh and took it.
"You are the only person my age I've met who carries around one of these." She dabbed at her eyes.
"Are you okay?" He asked, worriedly.
"The funny thing is… I'm not even upset over my grandpa dying. I'm upset for a completely different reason that I can't even tell you." Hermione felt her resolve begin to break. She hadn't cried yet. She'd been strong for Ron and Harry but now…
"You can tell me some, can't you?" Remus patted her on the back awkwardly. Looking up at his familiar face, Hermione couldn't hold it all in anymore.
"Oh… God…" She burst into tears.
The present time people… or future or... Harry and the Gang will talk to Dumbledore in the next chapter. Then you won't hear from them for a while.
Which is actually wrong but I was writing as I went. Still in revision mode. This chapter is almost completely different. Took me three days to re-do because I kept finding people who weren't in the scene talking to a person who was. It was all very confusing so tell me if something is off.
Cheers,
Sarcastic Romantic
