This is just a short little chapter but I hope to update again soon. Life just seems to get in the way so easily.4.
Hermione sunk herself into the armchair at her back with as much grace as she could muster. This day had already taken more out of her than she would like to admit. She had forgotten how exhausting dealing with Dumbledore could be. It was as if he enjoyed making things harder on others than they strictly needed to be. Watching as the Professor tried to recenter himself Hermione had to hold back a smirk. She kept up a constant stream in her head to remain polite. As loathe as she was to admit it she still needed the Professor. Going to Hogwarts would cement her as a citizen to Wizarding Britain in this timeline. Without those records and her NEWTS she was just a ghost, no one really.
Once Dumbledore had settled himself into his chair he scratched his throat and regained eye contact, " I feel we may need a bit more of an explanation Miss Granger. As you may be aware, meddling with time magic is no small matter."
"Yes Professor, I do know all of the rules. You personally applied for me to have access to a time turner in my third year in orderorder for me to handle my class load. I took every course available, you see. I must admit though, this is far further back than I have ever gone before. I was regulated to no more than 5 hours with my previous time piece."
"What exactly are your intentions in this time Miss Granger?" The Professor sounded as if he couldn't care less what her answer would be. The slight tick below his left eye gave away the gravity of the question.
" I intend to get my NEWTS Professor."
This seemed to be an acceptable answer. Hermione figured it might be better to not bring up the war herself. Dumbledore will most likely bring it up at some point and if he didn't that said something all in itself. She would have to earn his trust, she knew. She had her occlumency shields up before flooing to St. Jerome's church but had felt the push of his legilimency. It probably only made him more suspicious but there was nothing that would make Hermione let him into her mind.It was her best asset and it was hers alone.
"Where are you staying for now Miss Granger? Do you need a place to live as well as admittance to the school?" Dumbledore looked far calmer than he had at the beginning of the conversation. Hermione would say he looked genial if she didn't know him any better. The man would most likely always be suspicious of her.
" I am at the Leaky with Tom for now. I plan on finding a place to stay though. I don't particularly want to reside at the inn forever, no matter how kind Tom is."
"Nonsense." Mrs. Potter inserted herself into the conversation. Hermione had almost forgot of the other two people in the room. "We already have two young boys Hogwarts age living here. Merlin knows it might as well be four. One more won't hurt and I'll hear no argument. You may be of age but you still need some looking after while you adjust."
Mrs. Potter had fixed her with a look that spoke of no further discussion. Until that moment Hermione had forgotten the research she had done into Harry's ancestors. Looking at her now there was no mistaking this woman was a Black. With only a downward tilt to her chin Hermione acquiesced.
"Now that it has been settled, let's introduce you to the boys. They are a right handful but I have no doubt you will handle yourself just fine Hermione." Mrs. Potter's eyes turned soft at the statement. It was clear no matter how she described the marauders, she adored them.
Mrs. Potter turned to Dumbledore and the light in her eyes turned to cold steel. " As always you are welcome in our home Albus but I hardly think the girl needs you hovering. Fleamont and I have it well in hand."
"Of course Euphemia, owl me anytime and expect another Hogwarts letter for Hermione here soon. Just owl me what courses you are interested in Miss Granger." With one more calculating look thrown her way Dumbledore stood and exited the room.
Fleamont stood as well and looked to Hermione expectantly, "Well love, lets me the boys. They'll be at Hogwarts with you, same year and everything."
As Hermione moved to follow Mr. Potter further into the house her anxiety came back full force. In the course of her conversation with the Professor she hadn't let her new situation fully register. She would now be living with two of her past ghosts. She hadn't thought she would see them too regularly outside of Hogwarts. She should have months yet until having to come face to face with Harry's father. Yet here she was now, following his grandparents through his ancestral home to meet his father and teenage God father.
She felt heat flood her face as her earlier embarrassment came back to her. Not only had she made a complete fool of herself upon first seeing the younger Sirius Black she had then called him by name without an introduction. Sirius wasn't the kind of man to just let things go and she was sure he was no different at 17 than he was at 37. This was already looking to be a long and uncomfortable summer. She would have to constantly watch what she said and did around not just the boys but all the Potter's. She knew more about these people than any passing stranger would. Even if they believed she had gone to school with them all this time, she wouldn't know even half of what she did now. Between the map, their silly little nicknames and they meaning behind them and Remus' "fury little problem", there were too many mistakes to make.