Chapter 4.2

Sirius Black escaped. A mad man loose, hell bent on murdering the Potters. Not really her cup of tea, but trouble seems to find Harry and by extension her. She wouldn't even be surprise if the man finds himself at Hogwarts.

"Hey Hermione! What's that you're writing?" The youngest Weasley asked.

The trio (sans Harry, replaced by Ginny) was settled at the dining table, her back at the red head, who's having way too much fun braiding her hair. The two never really bonded in her second year, what with her being petrified almost half the year and Ronald making sure little Ms. Ginny never really bothered them. They didn't really have that much in common, and Ginny was more star-struck with Harry to glance her way. So it was really surprising when the younger girl approached her at the end of the year, wanting to be best friends. "Got to stick together, us girls. You know!" Hermione was apprehensive with their budding new relationship because she never really got on with girls her age. Still, it wouldn't hurt to try. Ginny's bubbly disposition was contagious and the girl had fiery spirit she actually admires. She must've gotten it from having to deal with six older brothers. Hermione just wishes Ginny would stop brushing and stroking her hair like as if she's some new dolly to play with.

"Yeah Herms. It's summer! Don't tell me you're revising notes already!" Ron said, surprisingly after swallowing first a mouthful of hash.

"Ack!" A crumpled paper hit Ron right in his nose.

"Call mer Herms again and I swear to you Ronald my true aim will be elsewhere and with a good and proper boil hex."

The redhead was smart enough not to reply and just glared at her from across the table, still rubbing at his barely bruised nose.

"Don't mind him Hermione, but he is right. Have you started with your lessons already? It is still summer you know." Hermione cringed when her self-appointed hairstylist pulled a knot.

"Well Sirius Black escaped… Ow! Ginny!" Ginny was not perturbed and continued her assault.

"Why would that concern you? I think that would affect Harry more than you." Ron said while Ginny took another knot to wrangle.

"Well Ronald, for some insane reason I'm the one who ends up half-dead in the infirmary since first year. So yeah I am reviiii… Ow! Merlin Ginny are you trying to make me bald?"

"Sooorry!" The redhead said in a sing-song voice. Oh she didn't look apologetic at all, and that just won't do.

"Ronald, hold your sister down."

"Aahhh!" The fiery redhead that she is bolted out off her chair, but Ron was faster than her sister, stronger too.

"See Ginny. This just won't do. I think you were purposely making a nest out of my hair." But instead of being intimidated the bounded girl just kept giggling.

"Wha.. what you're gonna do Heerms?" Oh that won't really do at all.

"Alright children do you have your list with you? Oh Ronald put on your coat already. Where are the twins? Arthur we're ready when you are! Oh Ginny dear…." The mother hen sighed in exasperation. It must be such a challenge to herald her brood.

"My, my, my – " One of the identical brood started. Was it Fred, maybe?

"Have we adopted –"

"Shut it boys! Let's just go already. Are you ready Hermione dear?"

"Ready as ever Mrs. Weasley." She said cheerfully and the mother of the house smiled warmly at her. It's the least she could do, looking composed and put together.

It was really entertaining to see the mother hen clucking at her children. It takes a certain force to corral the Weasley brood and Hermione's got to admire that. Perhaps Mothers could make perfect dark lords. Hell, even Hermione knows not to piss off her own mum.

The group were to meet Harry at the Leaky. Hagrid dropped him off when they spotted Mr. Weasley and the group, and their reserved table was boisterous with warm greeting and tight hugs.

"Holy Mackarel! What happened to Ginny's hair?"

"Hermione's happened. That's what." Ronald said to the boy-who-lived, snickering behind his sister who tried to smack him at the back of his head.

"Harry!" The not-so redhead launched herself at Harry, causing him to stumble a little.

"Well it's… not that bad?" Harry said uncertainly. He wasn't sure if it was safe to laugh out loud, Ginny was known to throw a good hex or two.

"I think it's a masterpiece!" Hermione proudly said, dangling her arm on Ginny's shoulder. "She looks like someone's long lost heir." Harry squeaked, trying hard not to laugh out loud. "Malfoy's long lost twin!" Ron cackled, catching everyone's attention.

Ginny, the poor girl, wanted so much to hex the three, but the raucous the three were making was contagious and soon the four we're cackling mad.

When they settled from their high, the group decided to part ways. Hermione has already accomplished most of her shopping and just really wanted to walk around the alley. So before Mrs. Weasley could even set out ground rules and assign them chaperones she bolted out the door and into the fray of the busy street.

'And where are you off to?'

'Just wandering, might get a cat.'

'Hmm.. a familiar then? Try the Menagerie.'

Well, better start somewhere, so she set her way towards the Wizarding World's pet shop.

There was something about magical creatures that attracts Hermione. She remembers as a child trekking from their campsite, sand finds herself accompanied by the friendly forest dwellers. She was most fond of wildcats, foxes, robins and hares. Playing Snow White and singing sweet tunes. She should not have put off acquiring a magical familiar, but her mum was insistent that she should familiarize herself first with Hogwarts before tagging along a smaller creature. Smart lady her mum, she would've been a useless mistress to her familiars since her first two years just ended up in the infirmary.

"Oh hello there." She cooed behind a glass tank.

'That's not a cat.'

'Oh hush you! It's cute!'

It was a Rosy Boa that got her attention. It was so pale, and the orange stripe lies prominent on its scales. It was adorably small.

'Just like you.'

'I'm not really that small.'

She held out her hand and Hermione liked the feel of his cool scales. It was just a bit shorter than her arm, and when the snake hissed, she was giddy at the tiny tongue sticking out from its equally tiny mouth. She was set, no need for a cat.

'Snakes are not among the approved familiars Hermione.'

'Ron has a rat, and that's not allowed. Besides it's tiny, I can hide it in my pockets or my hair.'

'Of course.'

The snakelet seems to return her fondness as it coiled adoringly in her left palm, going in between her fingers.

"Oh you'll love Hogwarts little snake." She whispered softly to it, her hand almost to her face as she looks closer at his scale and dark beady eyes.

"You smell like alfalfas. Maybe I should call you that?"

:Sure why not:

Oh his hissing voice was even cute! She can't wait to show Harry her new familiar.

After spending a week at the Weasleys and introducing sweet Alfalfa to Harry, Hermione went back home to spend the remainder of the summer with her parents. It was the least she could do, as she asks her parents to cancel the family trip back to France. Summer in France was great, there was alfresco dining, beautiful looking people, perfectly crafted pastries, breathtaking architecture and art, not to mention the tan she gets from lounging at the coasts of the french riviera. But her parents won't be able to leave her alone for long periods of time, meaning no Occlumency training and no abusing her Legilimency to unsuspecting passerby's in the park. So she acquiesce to lazing around with her folks, slouched with them in the family's sofa, a bowl of popcorn on her lap, and bonding over rented films.

"If my calculation are correct, when this BABY hits 88 Miles per hour, you're gonna see some serious shit Marty!"

"W-Wait a minute, Doc… are you telling me you built a time machine… out of a DeLorean?!"

Ding-ding-ding! Hermione's eyes were round like headlights, her body jerking as an idea forms in her head.

"Hermione! Must you make a mess?" Her flustered mum said. Mrs. Granger was shaking her head in agitation as the little witch was boobing up and down the sofa with a surprised energy, all the tiny popcorn from her lap bouncing off the bowl.

"Sorry mum!" She stands up abruptly as more popcorn bouncing off like confetti.

"Hermione! What has gotten into you!?" Her mum said as she picks one by one the fallen snack.

"Sorry!" Not really. "Here mum!" And her mum flashed her an irritated look.

It was comical to see her bewildered mum take the bowl, while her dad continues watching paying them no mind.

Bounding up to her room still with that excited energy, she slams open her room door, grabbed a binder from the shelves, a quill from the nearby table– threw said quill away– took hold of a click-it pen instead, and jumped on her bed like a hyped-up teen who found out her crush's secret.

That is it! Thank you Marty, or rather Doc Emmet Brown, brilliant man and brilliant idea!

A time machine. Or moreover, time magic! 14 whopping interesting subjects, all essential, all worth-taking. Only problem was she's still human, still need to sleep and eat, and apparently can't be in two places at once. But not with magic!

'Try to petition a time turner from the Ministry.'

'Do you think they'll allow that?'

'They will.'

'How so?'

'As... restitution for days spent comatose in the "safe halls" of Hogwarts.'

'I don't know… that's sounds like extortion'

'Blatant bribery, yes. But it IS for furthering your education. It's not like you'll be turning time to help a convict escape or something.'

'I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic or honest.'

However the old man was right, and what better way to milk her unfortunate predicament than to ask for access to a powerful magical device such as a time turner – for educational purposes, of course.

Although the magic of the time turner is truly fascinating, Hermione is more interested in pushing the boundaries of time magic, in debunking theories and understanding the science of time sands and temporal runic. So of course she had to "borrow" indefinitely, Foundations of Time Theories, Philosophiae Tempora Principia, and Copernicus' Revolutions of Heavenly Spheres – again for educational purposes only.

And with a time-turner, Hermione spent the rest of her 2 month summer aging a year.