Hermione's suspicions proved correct - she lay in bed staring blankly up at the underside of the wooden tester, continuously turning over the past hour in her mind. The experience remained disorienting, but as she sunk into the familiar warmth of her four-poster, she began to methodically break down what she could remember. Facts and logic were tangible in their own way, and solid reasoning was an exercise Hermione was used to performing.
The day had been perfectly normal up until her Astronomy class. Even the class had been normal until Hermione separated from the boys to return her supplies. Harry and Ron hadn't mentioned anything unusual happening to them, so she felt safe to assume she was the only one to have experienced the strangeness. Whatever had caused the peculiar sensation seemed connected to the scene then witnessed between Malfoy and Dumbledore. She couldn't recall the time-turner falling to the ground, so she couldn't be sure if that had happened after it took her to the future, or if the fall itself had caused it. Hermione had traveled to the past numerous times over the last year, but she had never felt anything close to tonight. Presumably, the time-turner was not meant to work forward. She spared a brief moment to wonder why coming back to the present had not been nearly so uncomfortable.
Hermione considered what she had observed about Malfoy and Dumbledore next. She had seen Malfoy focused, sneering, smirking, and gloating - even shocked, thanks to a well-deserved smack - but never terrified. Not since detention with Hagrid first year, anyway, and that hardly compared with the despair she had seen tonight. Though she knew he looked older, it made it hard to place his age exactly. She pictured Malfoy's face as he stared down Dumbledore. He had grown into his pointy features, she would have even called him handsome had she not known him personally. His hair had been shorter and more carefully styled, and he had worn an expensive-looking, almost Muggle-worthy black suit for the occasion. Who knew that Pureblood finery so closely aligned with Muggle fashion? She was sure the Pureblood elite would have been distraught at the revelation. Hermione nearly rolled her eyes at her own frivolity and returned to the task. If she had to make a guess, she would place Tower-Malfoy's age at sixteen or seventeen.
Dumbledore, too, had looked older, but only because he appeared so frail compared to the Dumbledore she saw only days ago in the present. Was he sick? That shriveled hand looked like serious business. Madam Pomfrey should have been able to heal it, or maybe the Healers at the wizarding hospital in London she had read about. Why was Dumbledore up on that tower in the first place? Hermione shelved that line of thinking for later - there were already too many unanswered questions.
Hermione rolled to her side and tucked an arm under her pillow. She closed her eyes and replayed the conversation between Malfoy and Dumbledore in her mind. Someday, Malfoy would be set a task to kill Dumbledore. Ridiculous, she scoffed to herself, that someone would expect a teenage boy to murder one of the greatest wizards in known history. Malfoy had clearly been reluctant to succeed, yet terrified to fail. He told Dumbledore that he and his family would be killed if he didn't do it. He had helped Death Eaters into the school, probably on the same orders. "He'll kill me! He'll kill my whole family!" had been Malfoy's exact words. She could remember the anguish in his voice, and the despair in his eyes. He. It all pointed to one thing, and Hermione was reluctant to admit the truth to herself. Voldemort would return, and sooner than anyone thought.
Hermione managed to drift off eventually. She slept fitfully, drifting in and out of consciousness between nightmares of a faceless evil and haunting images of Malfoy's terrified face. When she finally woke, it was to sunshine streaming through the tower windows, and an empty dormitory.
She dressed slowly, pausing to feed Crookshanks, and slipped her wand into her pocket. Hermione had most of her trunk already packed, but she found a clean stocking to fish the time-turner out of her bag. She stuffed the whole bundle inside her other pocket. By the time she made it down the dormitory stairs, the boys were waiting for her for a change. Halfway to the Great Hall, Hermione sent Ron and Harry ahead of her to breakfast so that she could make a quick detour by Professor McGonagall's office.
"Ah, Miss Granger, come in," Professor McGonagall said as Hermione knocked briefly and stuck her head around the door. She was shuffling a stack of papers together on her desk and had a pair of readers perched on her nose.
"Good morning Professor McGonagall," Hermione said. "I just wanted to -"
"Yes," Professor McGonagall cut her off with a smile. "I am heading down to the Great Hall in a moment to hand out exam results, but I can assure you that you've passed every subject. Why, I believe you even passed your Muggle Studies exam with three hundred and twenty percent! Quite extraordinary, dear, I must say. The other staff members and I are all very proud of your hard work this year."
"Oh, yes, thank you," Hermione blushed at the rare compliment. "Actually, Professor, I wanted to discuss my schedule for next year."
Professor McGongall paused straightening the exam results and motioned for Hermione to continue.
"I've given it a lot of thought over the past few months, and since I have already withdrawn from Divination, I've decided to give up Muggle Studies as well. Without those, I'll be able to have a normal schedule again."
She removed the time-turner from the stocking in her pocket and carefully laid it on McGonagall's desk.
"I don't think I could manage this year's course load again," she continued. "But I am very appreciative of your support for my schedule this year." Professor McGonagall was the reason Hermione had use of a timer-turner in the first place. "After spending sufficient time in each subject, the decision to narrow my studies feels well-informed."
Professor McGonagall nodded seriously at Hermione's explanation. "Of course, Miss Granger," she replied. "You know you have my full support in whatever you choose to study."
"Thank you, Professor," she smiled. Hermione turned to leave, then paused. She didn't want to divulge all the details, but she could give a small warning. "Professor… I should mention that the time-turner is possibly beginning to malfunction. It worked perfectly normal for me all year until yesterday. I felt a rather odd sensation the last time I used it. The Ministry might want to take a closer look before putting it back in use."
"I appreciate your caution, Miss Granger." Professor McGonagall stood behind her desk and began readying the papers in front of her. "I shall inform the Ministry of Magic upon returning it."
Hermione left the office and started for the Great Hall. It felt as if a weight had been lifted. The time-turner was out of her possession and no longer her responsibility. She turned the corner into the Entrance Hall and felt a jolt that almost stopped her in her tracks. Draco Malfoy was sauntering ahead of her along with Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe. She slowed her stride so as not to catch him, but she couldn't look away. His sleek blonde head swung to talk to Goyle, and his expression looked relaxed. At least until he reached the Great Hall and scowled up at the scarlet and gold decorations already hung for tonight's feast.
Hermione forced herself to turn the opposite way and scan the Gryffindor table for Harry and Ron. She found them halfway down, and folded herself onto the bench next to Harry. The bench conveniently faced away from the Slytherin table.
"- been thinking of trying out for the Quidditch team next year," Ron was telling Harry. "Now that Wood's graduating, you know, you'll need a Keeper and I've always thought I could do a decent job. I've had loads of practice with the family -"
"Yeah, mate! It'd be great to have you on the team," Harry nodded enthusiastically, swinging his fork in the air. "Alright there, Hermione?"
"Yes, of course," Hermione lied. "Just nervous about exam results, I suppose. Oh look, here comes Professor McGonagall now."
Ron groaned. "Ah, well, I can't see you having anything to worry about, Hermione. You're the smartest in our year. Mum's going to kill me if I didn't scrape through Potions, though. She won't even believe that Snape has it out for us. Can you imagine having to take remedial courses with that slimy git next year? Blimey, I think I'd just stay home."
"If anyone's failing potions, it's me," Harry said, looking slightly sick. "Since Sirius escaped, Snape looks like he wants to strangle me every time I see him."
To their great relief, Harry and Ron passed all of their subjects along with Hermione. The rest of the last day of term flew by, but one thing was different. Draco Malfoy seemed to be everywhere. Hermione couldn't help but notice him if he were anywhere in the vicinity now. After breakfast, he was lounging in the courtyard window reading while a group of Slytherins played Gobstones nearby. After lunch, he was walking the grounds with his cronies while she watched Harry and Ron take turns riding Harry's firebolt. He did sneer once at that. He was even in the library when she went to return a book before dinner! How many Malfoys were running around this place?
The end of term feast was splendid as usual, and Gryffindor table loudly celebrated their win of the House Cup for the third year running. Hermione tried very hard not to look over her shoulder at the Slytherin table all evening, and eventually managed to forget her worries as she joined in the festivities with the other Gryffindors. Exhausted as she was after the past two days, she had no trouble falling asleep right away that night.
As the Hogwarts Express pulled out of Hogsmeade station the next morning, Hermione found herself looking forward to the respite her home in the Muggle world would give her for the next two months. She would miss Harry and Ron, but Ron was already making plans for them to visit and see the Quidditch World Cup with his family. Harry had been looking glum about returning to the Dursleys, but he brightened considerably at the prospect of staying part of the summer with the Weasleys. Hermione played a few rounds of Exploding Snap with Harry and Ron to pass the morning, and bought lunch from the tea cart when the trolley Witch passed. Harry and Ron were starting another round when Hermione excused herself to the loo. She changed into her Muggle t-shirt and jeans. As she was returning down the narrow hallway to her compartment, she took a moment to gaze at the rolling landscape speeding past.
"Watch it, Granger," a voice drawled close in her ear. She gave a start, whipping around and almost knocking into Malfoy in the process. He smirked in satisfaction as he brushed past her down the corridor, his eyes dropping once to take in her Muggle attire. He had already changed into a light sweater and pale trousers. She stared wide-eyed after him a few moments more, then gathered herself as he slid open the door to the next car and disappeared without looking back. Hermione mentally chided herself for being startled by Draco Malfoy. She had been hyper-aware of Malfoy after her little foray into the future, and hadn't spoken to him directly since. Even if speaking with him usually meant little more than trading insults. In any case, she hadn't yet decided what was to be done about it all.
By late afternoon, Harry had received a surprise letter from Sirius. Hermione placed a hand on Crookshanks to hold him in his seat as an excitable little owl zoomed around the compartment. Harry read the letter out loud to them - she knew that broom had been sent by Sirius Black! - and discovered a permission slip to visit Hogsmeade in the future. Sirius had also gifted the small owl to Ron. Hermione was shocked and pleased when Ron held out the owl for Crookshanks to inspect. She hoped this would mark the end of their squabbling about her cat. Crookshanks really was quite remarkable, and she strongly suspected he was part-Kneazle.
The train finally slowed to a halt, and platform nine and three-quarters waited outside of their window. Hermione, Ron, and Harry gathered their luggage and trundled off the train. Right before going through the barrier, Hermione spotted a platinum blonde head joining two others. Malfoy's mother reached to envelop him in her arms while his father stood at her side, looking down his nose at everyone else on the platform. Hermione turned away to push through the barrier and immediately spotted her parents waiting next to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. She hurried toward their waiting arms, the scent of comfort, familiarity, and home washing over her. Harry's rather unpleasant-looking uncle seemed impatient about waiting across the platform, so she hurriedly hugged Harry and Ron good-bye amidst the usual promises to write each other over the summer. Ron also promised to ring Harry using the "fellytone", which she predicted would only end in disaster again for Harry. She would have to write Ron to remind him how to use it.
Hermione's dad took over wheeling her trolley while her mum scratched Crookshanks behind the ears through his carrier. They kept up a constant stream of questions all the way to the car, and Hermione chatted happily about her year. She was quite proud of her final marks and Gryffindor having won the House Cup again. On the long drive home, she told them about deciding to pare down her course load next year, if not exactly how she had managed it in the first place. Hermione crawled under the sheets of her own bed that night feeling much better than she had in days.
