Chapter Two

Hermione woke with a start. 1978! She was really in 1978, while part of Hermione's mind was reeling the part that had kept her and Harry alive for so long kicked into gear.

I need a cover story and it needs to be good, I need to find a job and open a Gringotts account and then I can work out what to do.

Hermione nodded to herself. She had the bare bones of a plan but a cover story would be potentially impossible. She had no records, no birth certificate and the only jobs that would probably hire without seeing her OWL and NEWT scores also probably wouldn't pay very well, or would be shady.

"Are you alright dear? You gave me quite a fright you know." Anne was still in the room with Hermione and looked incredibly worried.

"I'm sure I'll be fine, thank you." Hermione replied politely her mind still half on the major problem at hand.

"This arrived by owl while you were out, it's from the Ministry"

The Ministry?! Oh god, how can they have found me already? Calm down Hermione panicking will solve nothing. Read the letter first.

Dear Ms Granger

As you are by now aware a meeting is most urgent to brief you on the current situation. We at the department are most sorry for our part. However, we must speak with you today. Please cite your business as TOP SECRET and your name as JANE SMITH upon arrival and that will see you led to our department. We will meet with you at 11.30am.

Sincerely

Antioch

So they knew she was a time traveller, but had apparently kept it within the department from the letter. Antioch was the code name for the Head of the Department of Mysteries and was used when dealing with new recruits and messages that could be intercepted. She still wondered what they would do to her.

Possibly an obliviate so strong I end up sharing a wad with Neville's parents. Not that this is entirely my fault, bloody Winn I told them he would be an unreliable head but he is a good bureaucrat.

As it was nearing her appointment time Hermione hustled Anne out of the room asking if she could stay at least one more night. And then used some freshening charms she had learnt from Ginny and Lavender over the years. They were not a good substitute for a shower but in the time she had she would at least look presentable and not smell.

Once she was done she hid her wand in its holster, she knew that only citing top secret business was under no obligation to surrender their wand and it might help her later.

When Hermione arrived at the visitor's entrance she gave her name and business as she had been requested to do. As the magical lift arrived at the atrium Hermione could see the golden statue in all its glory, she also spied her escort to the department.

Good lord, having different coloured robes makes it easy to spot unspeakables a mile off. No wonder we all have to have code names.

The nervous intern led Hermione through corridors that looked both familiar and different at the same time. It was the oddest feeling. Eventually they arrived at the Head of Departments office. She was ushered in and offered tea which she declined gracefully.

The intern left and shut the door behind himself leaving Hermione alone in the room with Antioch.

"Granger good to meet you, my name is Abbott. This is the strangest business I've seen since I became department head and will likely see nothing stranger."

"I doubt you will Madame. This is the strangest thing that's happened to me." And I've escaped Gringotts on dragon-back!

"Well this file appeared on my desk this morning, which in itself is not unusual, but when I read it, well it became clear that this is not a usual case of time travel. In 2003, when you disappeared the current department head, who I hope was not me, created a file that would appear when you did. This file indicates that your journey was accidental and to some degree the fault of the departments head. All sounding right so far"

"Well other than the file that sounds like what happened."

"Good, so the 2003 Antioch realised that they'd buggered up your life. Because we don't know what happened we can't reverse it and as it is not entirely your fault it was deemed unethical to obliviate you and have you committed to St Mungos."

"I'm certainly glad about that Madame."

"As I read further so was I, Antioch worked on this for years. Papers have been drawn up, there is a dossier with your cover story, as well as your OWL and NEWT scores. They also had your bank accounts shuffled, with quite a long series of talks with the goblins. They have agreed to open your account with the amount that it contained on the 5th May 2003."

"That is certainly more than I ever expected, Winn certainly pulled through"

"Winn!? That's who the head was, no wonder there was an accident, he is a rubbish intern. Can't even get the tea orders straight. There is one other thing for you, a letter. I'll leave you be for a few minutes and let you get your head round this. I don't want you wondering around until you know who you are supposed to be."

Hermione thanked the department head and asked if she might have some coffee as she'd been so rushed to arrive on time.

"I'll send in Winn hopefully he won't balls this up as well." Hermione smiled at that.

"I told them not to make him department head, but they didn't really want to listen as I'd already turned them down twice."

"I would imagine that you are too sensible to get caught up in department head politics?"

"That and I didn't really want a public position."

"Understandable, ah Winn can you fetch this young lady a cup of coffee please?"

"Certainly Madame," the young intern who'd led her here was practically trembling with fear as he addressed the fearsome department head, "how do you take you coffee miss?"

"Black with sugar please," Hermione smiled at the young man feeling slightly sorry for him.

"I'll leave you to it then Granger please brief me on any pertinent details you feel I may need before you leave."

With that Abbott closed the door to her office and left Hermione with a pile of papers that could solve all her problems. Hermione thought back to her plan of action with her OWLs and NEWTs on record she could find a job and thanks to the generosity of the goblins she would have some time to find one. Hermione opened the dossier to find out what her cover story would limit her to.

Name: Jean Carr

Country of Birth: United States of America

OWLs: 9 Outstanding, 1 Exceeds Expectations (Defence Against the Darks Arts)

NEWTs: 6 Outstanding (including Defence Against the Darks Arts)

Mastery: Arithmancy and Ancient Runes

Previous Occupation: MACUSA Development and Research Department

Known misdemeanours: none

Notes: Carr was born to British parents residing in America, attended Ilvermorny School, speaker for equal rights of witches, wizards and other magical beings. Holds a British/American passport.

Well, thought Hermione, at least I'm not too different to who I am now. I wonder what's in the letter. Hermione opened the envelope and unfolded the parchment quickly glancing at the name at the bottom of the page, it was from Winn.

Granger,

Firstly I want to apologise for my part in your accident. I am sorry that we have affected you and so many others so badly. It has been three years since the day you disappeared. In that time I have managed to work out how to send these papers to wherever you turn up but not how to get you back. I know that your gold and qualifications will be of little comfort but I do hope they help make your transition easier.

We had to tell your parents and friends that you died in the explosion which happened in the time room. It would be best if you do not contact them and try to change your appearance to some degree.

I deposited enough money for you to buy a house from the department budget, the accountants went wild when I wouldn't tell them where it had gone but you will need a secure place and it was the only way I could think of to give it to you.

Time has changed just by your appearance, you will know by now my theories of time travel and in fact time itself being more like a tree than a line. Any changes you make will not affect the person you were or the wrongs you helped right at Hogwarts and in the wizarding world.

Make me proud Granger!

Winn.

Hermione stared at the letter, she read it again. She checked the date. Then just for good measure she re-read the letter a third time. Slowly a smile spread across her face.

This was not the smile of a happy person but the smile that had, on more than one occasion, sent the Weasley twins running for the hills.

This was the smile of a person who had survive the torture of Bellatrix Lestrange.

This was the smile of the person that would kill Tom Riddle.