Ch. 3
Hermione Granger had been working with Professor Dumbledore on researching Horcuxes, during her sixth year. Even months before her best friend had managed to get a memory from Professor Slughorn. They even had gone on to the locations, where Hermione had written down on her warded journal.
Professor Dumbledore had stated, "We're not ready for Tom Riddle to know what we're doing. Just simply research and find. Then once we're ready, we'll destroy them. Singling for Tom that we're ready for war."
Hermione had understood her headmaster but was fearful for Harry Potter. The one who had lost nearly everything because of Riddle. Wanting nothing more than to end the likes of the madman. Only for Harry to have a normal life.
"If anything should happen, Miss Granger, I need you to come to my office on the night of June 22nd. You'll be given a rare gift to help our young Mr. Potter."
Hermione at the time, only nodded to her cryptic headmaster. But she hadn't the energy to question him. Ever since Sirius Black had fallen into the veil, nearly a year prior. She had been feeling depressed and disconnected to everything around her. Even reading and engaging in class was a chore for her.
Only Dumbledore seemed to have noticed her disconnection. But like always, her boys hadn't noticed. Only long enough for Harry to believe that she was in pain over Ronald Weasley, with Lavender Brown. No, only for the loss of her heart, for Sirius Black. Bad part was, she couldn't tell Harry. Since he was mourning for his Godfather.
On one of the nights that she met with the headmaster. Only to see Professor Snape trying to heal his hand. "Miss Granger," Professor Snape growled out. "Glad to see a sensible face. Would you kindly tell the headmaster not to hunt those cursed objects without someone being there with him!"
Hermione could only imagine after seeing the blackened hand. "You went out alone?"
Albus Dumbledore shrugged his shoulders. "It couldn't be helped," before throwing a ring on the desk. "The Resurrection Stone…"
"Albus Dumbledore," hissed Professor Snape. Causing Hermione to have chills down her back. "All this for a legend. Which does not resurrect the dead, only gives you disappointment for the lost."
She had seen her potions professor angry a number of times. But never enough to feel frostbite in a roaring firelit room.
"You're going to die?" When she unstood what was going on.
"Yes, Miss Granger," simply said headmaster. Like one would discuss the weather. "But not before I set the stage for Mr. Potter to take over."
Hermione was fearful for not the headmaster, because he caused his own death. But for Harry and the school. Since neither would survive without the headmaster.
"Draco has until the end of the month, to get the cupboard to mend."
"Thank you, Serverus. You have done enough for the day," the headmaster growled at him. Causing the professor to leave the room, slamming the door behind him. "Hermione," causing the girl to jump into attention. When he never said her name before.
"Yes, Al...bus?"
He let out a chuckle. "The castle seems to have a mind for me to ask. If given a chance, would you travel back to 1976? Back to Harry's parents' time."
Hermione let herself to sit before the headmaster. Giving herself some time to think about it. "With the knowledge I know about the Horcruxes. I would go back to prevent Harry from the pain, of losing his parents. Why?"
Albus shrugged his shoulders. "The castle seems to know what's going on. I simply just keep it safe…"
Hermione Granger knew many things from helping the headmaster. Upstanding when he was withholding knowledge from her. Like he was doing at that moment. But knew from experience, she knew she had no energy to call him out on it. Not when she could see him thinking the next stage of planning in his eyes.
"Anything else I should know, sir?"
"Nope," he smiled at her. "Just my office, on the night of June 22nd."
Hermione grumbled but left his office. She knew that Harry had things on his mind. While Ronald was busy with Lavender. Making it easy for her to wander the halls on her own.
She found herself in the Room of Requirement. Only to find herself at the Family Black Library. One of the last places that she had seen Sirius Black. Before his untimely death. Remembering his debate on blood wards. The kind that would have saved the Potters.
"Not everything dealing with blood magic could be evil. It could save people, a family of blood. Could be saved under a blood ward," he had told her. Explaining that it was the same type of wards surrounding Harry's aunt and uncle's house.
"If that's true, why didn't Lily or James not have done it?"
"They were scared," Sirius simply replied. "Lack of focus can render any spell unusable. If only I wasn't busy being an auror. Otherwise I would have done it for them. If they only asked… But I was tired from my long shifts with Moody."
It was then he gave her a book on blood wards. The history behind the wards. Why they were used and how they were made. She found that a family had lived at a residence for many generations, along with their own blood wards added. Then that home was safer than Hogwarts as a whole.
Which Hermione had found unbelievable. But found the Black Family House as protected as the book had said. But only as long as the family line had survived. After Sirius had gone, she found the wards had dropped. Leaving the homes vulnerable, if it wasn't unplottable. Sirius had made Remus Lupin its secret keeper.
Hermione, for the first time in nearly a year. Allowed herself to break down and cried. Falling down on the floor, crying into Sirius' favorite chair. Imaging his fingers raking through her hair. Like he had done, in order to calm her. From her frustrations with the twins.
Lily Evans woke up with a start. After seeing a girl her age, breaking down in a darkened library. She remembered the long, tight brunette ringlets. Almost making the hair look bushy and unmanageable. But what nearly brought tears to her own eyes. Was seeing the pain and sorrow from the endless brown eyes.
Lily had felt her hand go through the brunette's hair. Only to feel how silky it was. She wanted to be there to help her. But she didn't know where to find her, in order to do so. Finding her own heart broken for the girl.
Lily saw the time, seeing it was six in the morning. Giving her time to shower before breakfast and then the chapel. Without much effort, she washed, dried. Went to breakfast, then the chapel before nine. Just before service had started.
Lily Evans not being the only one that Sunday. But many other muggle-borns, a few halfbloods and two purebloods. When another step in and sat beside her. Causing her to raise her eyebrow.
"Are you lost, Black," she asked in a whispered voice.
"Shhh," His finger against his lips. "I'm usually here on Saturday night service, but I was busy getting Remus' help. I don't want my reputation to get damaged now, do I?"
Crossing her arms over her chest. Glaring at him. Hoping beyond hope that his soulmate could help with his emplothy. Just as the service began. Her mind going back to the girl from her dream.
Lily wanted to be there for her. But she just didn't know where to find her. At the corner of her eye. She noticed how Sirius Black was focused on the sermon. Something she had never seen before. Not even in their shared classes.
Once the sermon was done. The eating of bread and drinking of the wine. Then lastly a song. The service was over but Sirius didn't leave. Not until the prior came to him.
"Mr. Black, what an odd sight to see you on a Sunday. Is there a prayer you want me to do for you?"
"Yes, sir," Sirius nodded. "Could you pray that this Tuesday, goes well for our new friend." He pointed to himself and her, meaning that they share a friend. Which she hoped that they would. At least for the girl, anyway.
The man of the cloth smiled. Seemed to have remembered about their talk from the night before. "Yes, let's shall." The three of them bowed their heads.
"Lord of lords, we come to you in prayer," the prior spoke. "Praying for soul who is on their journey to us on Tuesday. Make sure her journey is safe and knows that she's welcome here. Thanks to our God, amen."
"Amen," the two replied. Smiling at the prior, before he gone on to others that were still within the chapel.
"Who else comes on Saturday?"
"James, when we don't have Quittach that night. Remus has come once a month. When he's not busy with prefect duties..."
"What about Peter," Lily asked.
Sirius shrugged his shoulders. "He never comes. Something about his family being nonbelievers or something."
The two of them left the chapel. Making their way to the Great Hall. Seeing as lunch would be served soon. "Tell me Evans, what does your family view on your magic and their beliefs?"
"My sister believes it's unnatural for anyone but Jesus to have abilities. But my parents," she smiled. "Think that they could only be a gift. Since they know that I would never harm anyone with them."
Sirius nodded with a kind smile. "The day I came to the school, I didn't know anything about any religion. But James dragged me on the first Saturday and came ever since. Always asking questions before the Potters gave me the book. Then asked, can someone like me with sins of their fathers be saved."
Lily gave him a worried look. "Black?"
"It's more than just a name, Red. I have lines of black magic in the bloodlines. I never wanted to be born into that family."
"What was their answer."
"My heart," he replied. "I am only judged by my heart. The sins will never follow if I'm baptized. So summer after fifth year. I was baptized at the Potters watering hole that they have. After walking away from my family."
Lily nodded. Seeing that there was nothing else for them to talk about. Once they reached the hall, they noticed the benches bunking all over the hall. While most students were daring one another. Seeing if one of them could stay on.
"SIRIUS," they heard James Potter calling for him. "YOU'RE MISSING OUT ON THE FUN!"
The two let out a breath. "Guess I'm eating in the kitchen," stated Lily.
"At least he's left you alone." Sirius huffed before leaving her. "Can't wait until the week of this challenge is over. I'm losing my beauty sleep with all of his rambled ideas."
Lily turned and giggled, picturing Potter driving Black's nerves. "Karma is really doing a number on you." Before leaving him to his misery.
She rushed off to the kitchen. Only to find Remus Lupin hiding out. "Can't handle the madhouse either," she asked him.
He glared at her, to the point his eyes flashed amber. "I can't wait until this dare between James and Sirius is over. This has gone too far. I almost miss him talking non-stop about you."
Lily gave him a sheepish look. "I'm sorry Remus. Black wanted me to do something for him. I told him that I would, if he managed to get Potter's attention off me."
Remus rolled his eyes. Waving for her to sit next to him. "So, I have you to thank for his new obsession?" He shook his head in wonder. "What wonders cease to amaze. What are you doing for Sirius that has gotten James to go astray?"
Lily then told Remus Lupin everything about the book. Along with the potion. "It takes three days to make. Tonight being the last day. Before we're able to test it on Tuesday."
Remus whisled. "You put yourself into a corner. I'm surprised that James has kept his sights away from you for this long." He looked around the kitchen, only to call one of the house elves over. "DeeDee, two dinner plates and hot cocoa please."
"Right up, Mister Lupin!"
After a moment, a couple of plates and cups made there way to them. Along with a bowl of marshmallows and a jar of extra chocolate sauce.
Lily was greatly surprised with the added treats. "Wow, I've been missing out on such great wonders as this." Her green eyes sparkled with happiness. "How long have you been treated like this?"
Remus blushed under her great joy. "Since first year. Just after…"
Lily calmed down with a clam breath. "Since the first moon," she asked.
Remus sighed, "When did you…?"
Lily smiled, "Third year, after doing some extra reading for our DADA." Just before digging into her dinner.
The two enjoyed their dinner. Along with their cocoa.