Author's Note: finally another chapter! I have two amazing betas, Bookworm4life0812 and MammWeasley27 who have been helping me. You will also be pleased to know that the next chapter is also almost done being written, so once that is betaed you'll get another chapter! I know crazy! I'm loving writing this story. Obviously we will have some romance in this story BUT I'm not going to label this story with the pairing. I want to keep you all guessing. With that said once we get deeper in I'd love to hear thoughts on who you think Hermione will end up with. Anyway enough of my rambling...on to the update! As always review please! And I don't own anything, the all belongs to Queen Rowling.

Chapter 2

Over the years, Hermione Granger spent more time in the Hospital Wing than she cared to admit; being best friends with the Boy Who Lived came with its hazards, but despite this, she wouldn't change a thing. She found in Harry the brother she never had, and he was the only family she had left. So it came as no surprise to her as she woke up that she was once again lying in a bed in the Hospital Wing, a moment when the fog of sleep cleared she remembered. The battle, losing Harry and Ron, fighting Rabastan. Hermione then sat up quickly, too quickly, and groaned clutching her spinning head.

"Here drink this."

The curly haired witch looked up to see Madame Pomfrey with a tray of potions, holding what looked like a pain potion.

"Oh Madame Pomfrey! Thank god you're okay. What happened? Is the battle over? Do you know where Harry and Ron are?" Hermione fired off questions to the mediwitch in rapid succession before looking around the room to see only the bed next to her occupied, but unable to see the face as he is lying on his stomach turned away from her bed. "Why is it so empty? How long was I out for?"

The confused mediwitch observed the young witch for a moment. "Please. I insist you take all of your potions before any questions are answered, and going forward will you please tell me your name so I know what to call you."

It was now Hermione's turn to be confused. "My name? Madame Pomfrey, it's Hermione Granger. You've known me for seven years. Are you okay?"

"Well Miss Granger I can guarantee you we've never met, and until the headmaster arrives I can not answer any of you questions, though I can assure you I am quite well." Madame Pomfrey informed her patient as she sets down the tray of potions on the table next to the bed. "Now please finish all of these potions. There is a pain potion, a nutrient potion, a very mild invigoration draught to help with some of the exhaustion, as well as a potion to help heal some of your internal injuries. I'll go inform the headmaster that you're awake." With that she swept out of the room before Hermione could utter another word.

After a moment of hesitation, Hermione downed all of the vials in quick succession, she found it easier to deal with the awful taste if she got it over with quickly, and then contemplated her current predicament. She wondered for a brief moment if she had died but that would mean Madame Pomfrey was dead as week and even then the mediwitch would know Hermione, after all she had been treating Hermione for years. Then she remembered Rabastan forcing her to drink a potion and wondered if it altered her appearance so she wouldn't be recognized, but again that didn't account for Her not even knowing the name Hermione Granger.

"Hey! You're awake! How are you feeling?"

The sudden noise startled Hermione out of her thoughts and she realized the other occupant of the room had woken. At first glance she thought it was Harry but before she could say anything the differences between this boy and her best friend were clear. The most noticeable difference was the eyes; the startling emerald green that defined Harry was absent, in addition to the missing lightening bolt scar, and Hermione noticed this boy's jaw was slightly sharper than Harry's.

"Excuse me…miss? Are you okay? Do you want me to get Madame Pomfrey?" The boy questione, slightly concerned as the girl simply stared at him without showing any sign that she heard him.

"Oh,er...sorry. No, Madame Pomfrey already gave me some potions. I believe she said she was going to get the headmaster. Who are you?"

The boy threw her a relaxed smile before sticking out his hand. "James Potter at your service. And what may I ask is your name?"

At the introduction, Hermione's eyes went wide. Maybe she was dead after all. What other explanation could there be? She was saved from having to answer by the arrival of one Albus Dumbledore, and her eyes went wider, if that was even possible.

"Ah! Mr. Potter, you're awake as well. Good. Perhaps you should head down to the Great Hall for breakfast while we speak with our patient here," he suggested, his blue eyes twinkling as they always do. "After you may join us back here so we can discuss your role in the events of last night."

"Are you sure sir? I don't mind staying to give my account now. The lady here may need moral support as well." James countered, clearly not wanting to leave just yet.

The headmaster chuckled, "I am quite sure. Your account can wait, plus I believe your friends will most likely be looking for you, and while I'm sure the events from last night will make their way around the school, we don't need anybody peeking in here just yet."

Clearly knowing there was no point in arguing with the headmaster, James quickly informed the witch that he would be back to visit her soon and then left to get ready for the day.

After the head boy left, Dumbledore silently locked the door and placed some privacy wards around them, ensuring nobody would potentially over hear them.

"Now, Madame Pomfrey informed me that you seem to know her Miss Granger, so perhaps you could shed some light on your arrival? Hogwarts wards are supposed to be impenetrable yet you seemed to be able to apparate on the grounds."

Hermione bit her lip unsure of where to begin. She was convinced of one of two things. Either she was dead or somehow she had gone back in time. She didn't see any other explanation, and despite the complications that time travel could cause, she really hoped that was the case since she did not want to be dead. Perhaps the headmaster would be able to answer some of her questions first before she revealed any information.

"Headmaster, could you please tell me the date before I answer any other questions?"

Slightly shocked at the unusual question, the headmaster answered, "May 2nd my dear, and why would you need to know the date?"

"And the year?" Hermione continued to press.

Understanding dawned on the older wizard, "1978. Poppy, why don't you give Miss Granger and I a few moments alone to discuss her circumstances."

"Really headmaster, I can only allow you a few moments. My patient still needs quite a bit of rest and recuperation." The mediwitch protested.

With the twinkle in his eye Hermione had missed seeing in her headmaster's eye over the past year, he smiled at Madame Pomfrey, "Of course Poppy. I would never dream of coming between you and your patients. I will let you know as soon as we are finished."

With a huff, Madame Pomfrey stalked back to her office and closed the door.

Turning back to the witch lying in the bed, Dumbledore resumed his penetrating stare. "So I assume by your question you are not from this time."

"That would be correct sir. I'm from 1998. I was at Hogwarts, there was a battle. My friends and I….we were separated. A death eater cornered me and forced me away from the fighting. Everything is a little fuzzy but I remember he forced a potion on me and a spell that felt like he was ripping out my magic. Then another spell and a bright light. Next thing I know I'm waking up here."

Dumbledore's eyes lost their twinkle and his face was grave. "Twenty years and there is still fighting. This war won't end anytime soon then."

"Well...it will stop for awhile, but he comes back. We were so close to winning too. I need to get back. I need to help." Hermione begged.

"Now Miss Granger, calm down. We don't want Madame Pomfrey to come out here and berate me for upsetting one of her patients. Unfortunately I don't know of a way to send you back. Time turners only go backwards and you must wait for time to catch up with itself, not to mention I've never heard of a time turner going back more than a few hours."

"I know. I've used a time turner before."

"You have?" Dumbledore is clearly shocked by this revelation.

"Yes. My third year. I had special permission to use it to take extra classes." Hermione informed him proudly, despite that it had turned out to be somewhat of a disaster, though she had been able to help save Sirius.

"Well then you know the time turner option is out. Though I doubt that would have helped anyway seeing as you didn't come back with a time turner but with a spell. Do you perhaps remember the spell?"

Hermione scrunched up her face in concentration. The past few months had been fuzzy for her. Between her encounter with Bellatrix, breaking in and out of Gringotts, the battle, the adrenaline that had been pumping through her had been intense. She knew though she needed to remember…..it was the only way to get home. "It's a blur. It's been an…..intense few months. He said 'in...in tempore….in tempore something'. I'm sorry. I can't remember the whole spell."

Dumbledore smiled at her, "It's quite alright my dear. I am sure it will come to you eventually. In the meantime what you have remembered will give me a start in research. I have quite an extensive library that will help. I will compile a list of spells and maybe one will jump out at you. Now I better let Madame Pomfrey come out and check on you. For the time being, I suggest you stay here. Unfortunately we can not close the Hospital Wing, NEWTs and OWLs are approaching and unfortunately too many people may be in need of Madame Pomfrey. I implore you, however, not to reveal to anybody your origins until we can figure out exactly what happened."

"Of course headmaster. Thank you for your help. I know I can't reveal anything about the future but...it's good to see you again. It has been a long time for me."

Dumbledore hesitated. What could have happened to this girl that simply seeing her old headmaster could elicit such a reaction. "Thank you Miss Granger. The sentiment is appreciated."

Dumbledore then turned away and went to retrieve the mediwitch before sweeping out of the Hospital Wing and back to his office to begin his research.

Madame Pomfrey bustled over to her patient muttering, "Of course Albus would feel as if getting information is more important than the health of my patients. Now Miss Granger, is there anything you can tell me about any of your injuries? You are quite malnourished as well. You will need to be on a regimen of nutritional and vitamin potions. And no heavy foods until your appetite has returned. I'll have the elves send up some broth for you. As for your scars, there is nothing I can do to heal them unfortunately."

"It's okay. I know about the scars. I've already tried removing them but they were caused by dark magic. Nothing has helped. As for other injuries I've experienced, they are mostly healed. I know I still have some tremors from the…" Hermione paused, "I suffered under the Cruciatus Curse for quite some time." She finished in a small voice.

Madame Pomfrey gazed at her sympathetically. "It's alright my dear. We will deal with those as they come. Now can you tell me how you've become so underfed?"

"It's just been a long few months. I've been in hiding. Food was scarce. We ate what we could find. Broth and maybe some bread would be greatly appreciated."

"Of course. I'll have the elves send some up now and let you rest. I'm going to draw the curtains to prevent anybody who stops by from staring." Madame Pomfrey gave her one last sad smile before sweeping back into her office.

Not a minute later, a steaming bowl of broth and warm bread appeared by her bedside and she immediately dove into the food. The little she was able to eat at Aberforth's seemed ages ago at this point, even though it was less than 24 hours for her.

"Woah! Slow down there before you choke." A voice interrupted her thoughts.

Hermione turned toward the end of her bed where she saw James Potter standing. "What are you doing here?"

Confused, James responded. "I told you I'd be back after breakfast."

"Yes but I didn't think you actually would. Don't you have class or something?"

"Well, yes but you're more important. Plus it's all review at this point for NEWTs."

"I'm more important? You don't even know me. You can go. I'll be fine. I'll probably go back to sleep after I'm done eating anyway." Hermione dismissed him, needing him to get as far away from her as possible. It's one thing knowing Harry's father was alive and not do anything to save him, but to have him in such close proximity, well…..she may be able to see the differences between the two but they still looked way too much alike for her comfort. She didn't think she could spend any significant amount of time with the man before breaking down and telling him everything. That he and Lily will get married and have the most beautiful baby boy ever, who would grow up into the best man Hermione will ever know, and then in only three short years they will put their trust in the wrong person and both he and his wife will lay their lives down for their son. No, she couldn't do that. Awful things happen to people who mess with time. And since she can't change the future, she needed James Potter as far away from her as possible.

While lost in her thoughts, James continued to stare at the witch and contemplated why he felt she was so important. "I know I don't know you but I feel as if I do. You seem familiar, you feel familiar. I can't explain it, but I feel this need to make sure you're okay. So until I can explain that feeling, you're stuck with me."

Hermione groaned. Clearly Harry came by his stubbornness honestly. "James. Please. I'm hungry and exhausted. I would just like to eat in peace and then sleep."

James simply sat down in the chair next to her bed and pulled out a textbook. "That's fine. I won't bother you. I am supposed to be in class so I'll just sit here and review."

As the messy haired man began to read, Hermione stared at him. Either he couldn't take a hint or chose to ignore her wishes, she wasn't completely sure, but he could be quite annoying.

"You're staring. I thought you said you were hungry?" James said as he smirked still reading his book. "If you want to talk I can study later, but you really should make up your mind."

"You're quite annoying you know that?" Hermione scowled.

"I know."

With a huff, Hermione decided to simply ignore him. She would eat and then sleep and hopefully by the time she woke up he would be gone.

The two sat in silence, one eating and the other reading, and before long Hermione couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. She moved the tray with the now empty bowl back to the table beside her bed, and laid down beneath the covers once more.

At her movement, James glanced over at the black haired witch. "Are you okay? Did you have enough to eat? Do you need any more pillows or blankets?"

Hermione sighed with exasperation. "I am fine. You can go. I don't need you here. Madame Pomfrey and Professor Dumbledore are taking excellent care of me."

Unsure of what to do, James paused. He really didn't want to leave her but she clearly didn't want him here. "I'll stay until you fall asleep, and then I'll leave. But I reserve the right to come back and check on you. After all I was the one who found you, I think I deserve to know how you're recovering."

"I'm not going to get you to agree to just forget about last night and move on am I?"

"Nope. Not a chance. Take it or leave it."

Hermione groaned. "Fine. Stay until I fall asleep but then please leave. And I'll tell Professor Dumbledore to let you know how I'm doing if you just stay away from the Hospital Wing. Now he quiet. I'm trying to sleep."

With that, she rolled over so her back was to the Head Boy and closed her eyes, asleep within minutes, she hoped that was the last she ever had to see of James Potter.