Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Chapter Five
2004
"Harry, I was expecting you." Dumbledore smiled from his desk as the group fell out of his fire.
"Sir, where's Hermione?" Harry stood and quickly crossed to desk as Ron and Ginny helped their mother to her feet.
"I believe 1976 with your father and his friends." Dumbledore handed Harry two thin books. Inscribed on the front of the first was "Memories. 1976." The second read "Forever. 1977."
"What is it?" Ron came and looked over Harry's shoulder.
"A yearbook. Hermione should be in there. Hermione Dumbledore, mind you. She acted as my niece while she was there." Dumbledore continued to smile at them.
"Thank you, Headmaster. At least, we know she's safe." Mrs. Weasley put a hand on Harry's shoulder and began to hurry them for the fireplace again.
"Wait! Professor, when will Hermione be back?" Harry turned back sharply.
"She should be back… Well, now. I can't seem to remember. Maybe she isn't back yet. Good day." Dumbledore returned to what he had been doing as Mrs. Weasley shepherded them into the fire.
A few minutes later they had arrived again in Grimmauld Place. Mrs. Weasley returned to the kitchen to begin lunch while Harry, Ron and Ginny hurried upstairs to look at the yearbook.
"Here, look. 'The Marauders. James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. Dangerous when armed with dungbombs.'" Harry grinned.
"Look at that. Most studious. There's Remus. And…" Ron pointed at another picture.
"That's my mum and…" Harry stared.
"Hermione," Ginny smiled, "Why am I not surprised? Let's look at the quotes." She started flipping through.
"How do you know anything about yearbooks?" Harry asked.
"I read." Ginny answered, rolling her eyes.
"Here's your dad's 'Pranking. More important then anything!' Who else does that remind you of?" Ron laughed.
"Lily Evans 'Trying your hardest is all anyone can ask of you.' And Remus Lupin 'I tried to be respectable but they just kept getting in the way.' Peter Pettigrew…" Ginny started.
"Don't read it. Let's look for Sirius and Hermione." Ron snapped.
"I found Sirius. 'I'd do anything for my friends.' Aww, how sweet." Ginny smiled. Ron rolled his eyes.
"Look, Hermione Dumbledore 'My life started out perfectly planned and color-coded. The Mauraders took it upon themselves to mix up my notes. When I look at it now, I realize, my priorities have been mixed up for way too long.'" Harry read quietly.
"There goes our dear little Hermione." Ginny sighed.
1976
Hermione sank to the floor, holding the handkerchief to her mouth. Remus knelt down in front of her and looked on worriedly. The memories of the night in the Department all came flooding back.
"Can you tell me?" Remus asked, once she had calmed down. Hermione thought about what Dumbledore had said. No one was supposed to know she was from another time but it could seem as though it happened in this time.
"I can tell you some of it, I guess," She paused, "I have two friends. I've known them since I was young. They saved my life and we'd do anything for each other. One of my friends, Harry, is an orphan. His parents were killed when he was one. He never really had anyone."
"That's awful." Remus put in.
"Yeah. He lives with his evil aunt and uncle. That sounds cliché, I know but it's true. In third year he found his godfather, Siri… Steve. S… Steve invited Harry to stay with him but Steve was accused of a crime so he had to go on the run. Harry went back to his aunt's. Last year… S… Steve was killed…" Hermione's voice fell away.
"Oh… oh no." Remus sighed.
"And… and he was so kind and funny and Harry loved him so much and poor Professor Lu… Ludwig and oh God…" Hermione dissolved into tears again.
"And now you don't know what to do with yourself?" Remus smiled.
"I'm just so worried about Harry. He needs someone other then Ron to talk to." Hermione sighed, done crying for now. She knew her eyes were probably red and puffy.
"Can't you write to him and see him during breaks?" Remus asked. Hermione tried not to wince at the stupidity of what she'd done.
"Writing isn't the same and I can't go back over the breaks. I have to stay here until I turn seventeen." Hermione lied quickly.
"That isn't fair."
"No… It's not." She muttered.
"Now that you're calm again, let's get you up to the Gryffindor Tower. There's someone you should meet." Remus helped her to her feet.
"Thanks." Hermione said softly, hand him back his now drenched handkerchief.
"For what?" Remus looked at her quickly as he pocketed the handkerchief.
"For listening to me. I don't break down often. I feel sort of relieved." Hermione took a deep breath.
"Like the weight of the world has taken a vacation?" Remus asked, smiling knowingly.
"Yeah, sort of. How'd you know that?" Hermione pulled out her wand and preformed a quick spell to get rid of the redness she was sure remained around her eyes.
"That's what my friends do for me whenever I'm down. They let me scream, or throw things and then pat me on the back and go on with things. It always makes me feel relaxed, at least for a while." Remus laughed softly.
"Hm… that must be nice," Hermione thought back to the times she'd done the same for Harry, "Now who do I need to meet?"
"Oh. Lily Evans. One of the nicest girls I've ever met and one of the smartest. She thinks Sirius and James are practically scum but she puts up with me, for some reason." Remus shrugged. They started walking.
"Lily… Evans? Oh…" Hermione trailed off, thinking. Harry should be here. Not me. Why am I here? Lily Evans… I'm meeting Harry's mum and I already met his dad… Oh. I feel so guilty and I should…
"We're here. The Gryffindor Tower. Though you already know it, it might be different. You never know." Remus grinned, acting the part of the tour guide. I just realized. He seems so much freer in this time. Much happier. The portrait swung open. Glancing around, she noticed that the Common Room was the same, the only thing different were the faces.
"Remus! We have a meeting tonight and I can't find my report!" A blur of red hair rushed past Hermione as she stepped into the Common Room.
"Calm down, Lily. You let me borrow it so I could look it over. It's in my bag. I have someone you should meet." Remus answered calmly.
"Oh?" Lily looked around and caught sight of Hermione.
"This is Hermione Dumbledore. She's the Headmaster's niece. I'm sure she'd like to tell you a bit about her. I'll go get the report." Remus smiled and walked off.
"Hello. I'm Lily Evans." Lily smiled and held out her hand, which Hermione shook.
"It's nice to meet you." Hermione smiled back.
"Oh, do you want to see the dorm? It's nice, if not a bit cramped." Lily offered. Hermione nodded. Someone bumped into her.
"Sorry." They muttered and hurried off.
"No problem." Hermione replied a moment to late.
"Don't worry about that. He's a first year, a bit shy. This way." Lily led her up the familiar staircase.
"Do you know anything about time travel?" Hermione asked, abruptly as they entered the dorm. Lily frowned.
"A little. There's not much information around. It's just stared to be studied recently. This is your bed. Why?" Lily pointed to the bed without a trunk in front of it.
"You wouldn't believe me." Hermione shook her head and sighed. I still don't believe me.
"You'd be surprised what I'd believe." Lily answered but quickly changed the subject, "Why did you come to Hogwarts?"
"I used to live with my grandpa but he died recently… I've come to live with Uncle Albus. I've never gone to a proper school before. Grandpa Abel always taught me at home. He was a good teacher." Hermione sniffed, sadly.
"I'm sure," Lily smiled, "When did he die?"
"A month… or so ago." Hermione tried to remember if Dumbledore had told her.
"Doesn't Professor Dumbledore have another brother?" Lily asked, curious.
"Yeah. Uncle Aberforth. He's a little crazy and he doesn't have any morals, which is why Grandpa Abel wanted me to go to Uncle Albus. Oh, I hope I'm not too far behind in classes." Hermione bit her lip.
"I can help you catch up." Lily offered.
"Oh, would you? Thank you!" Hermione smiled. Maybe life here wouldn't be so bad after all.
In the last chapter, I lied. Sorry. They'll come in once more, later. And then you won't hear from them for a while. I think… depends where the story goes. My personal muse is rather temperamental and I think she has ADD.
Quickly a recap of my changes. No one but Dumbledore knows Hermione Dumbledore is actually Hermione Granger or that she is from a different time. And I made up Abel Dumbledore… I picked something in the "Ab" theme at least. Just work with it. I don't even have a real plot right now.
Cheers,
Sarcastic Romantic
