Author's Note: Hello to all of my readers! First I would like to say thank you thank you thank you to everybody who has read, reviewed, and commented. Your support for this story has been absolutely amazing! Second I would like to apologize for how long it has taken me to post a new chapter. I promise this story is not abandoned and will be finished no matter how long it takes. Between the holidays, moving, work, and some minor health issues on my end my motivation and ability to write was severely lacking there for awhile. My motivation isn't 100% back but I am getting there. I do have the next chapter written as well as part of the one after that. I would like to say that this and the next few are not beta'd. I will get them to her and she will get them back to me when she can and I appreciate your patience. That being said I am posting this without my beta so you can all enjoy it, but as soon as I get it back I will update with the edited version. Now that all of that is out of the way onward and upward. Enjoy the next chapter! As always let me know what you think.

Chapter 4

When Hermione woke up it was dark out this time. She glanced next to her to see James Potter slumped over in the chair and rolled her eyes. Of course he didn't leave, she thought. Not that she truly believed he would but she had at least hoped he would listen to her.

Despite having spent the entire day asleep, she still felt absolutely exhausted, though not in as much pain as before. Despite her exhaustion, Hermione was happy to see that Madame Pomfrey left another tray of broth and bread under a stasis charm for her. She had missed both lunch and dinner, and while she was used to skipping meals at this point, she didn't have to anymore. She wanted to build her strength back up so when she did return to 1998 she was ready to fight again.

Hermione also noticed her wand had been returned to her and as soon as she had finished eating quickly grabbed it and relished the feeling of her magic running through her beloved vinewood wand. She remembered what Madame Pomfrey had said about her magical exhaustion and decided to try out a few simple spells: levitating the tray her dinner had been on, summoning the pain potion on the far side of the table next to her. Frustrated that even those spells seemed to wear her out, Hermione decided to try again in the morning after a few more hours of sleep.

As she laid back down under the covers ready to drift off the doors to the Hospital Wing opened and in walked the Headmaster with an older couple. The Headmaster lit a few lamps as the group made their way towards Hermione's bed.

"Ah! Miss Granger so glad to see you are awake. How are you feeling?" Professor Dumbledore inquired.

"Better, sir. Still a little tired but a few more hours of sleep and I should be just fine," Hermione didn't want to tell him about her magic being off as she hoped that would right itself soon.

"Excellent! Well let's get down to business but first, Dorea why don't you wake James and the three of you can head down to the kitchens to have your chat," the older wizard suggested.

The woman, Dorea, walked towards the side of the bed and gently shook the sleeping man. "James. James darling, wake up."

Clearly groggy, James slowly opened his eyes and looked around. "Mum? Dad? What are you two doing here?"

"We got your letter and we wanted to talk with you straight away," the man, apparently James's father, informed him. "Come on, let's go get some tea while Albus and Miss Granger discuss a few things."

With only a slight bit of hesitation, James followed his parents out of the Hospital Wing only after being assured they would all return shortly.

Hermione watched the whole interaction in silence. She had just met Harry's grandparents. She didn't think her day could get any stranger, but decided to shake it off and hoped that Professor Dumbledore had some answers for her. "I know it's only been a day but were you able to make any progress?"

The older wizard gave her a sympathetic look before he broke the news to her. "I have made some progress but the Potters interrupted me before I completely finished my research. It seems that James wrote to them about you earlier today. They requested a meeting immediately."

"I'm sure they're concerned he's skipping classes. It's quite irresponsible of him, especially this close to his NEWTs. I tried to get him to leave but he refused."

Dumbledore chuckled. "Not quite, they were more concerned about James feeling so connected to you. This is actually where my research comes in. Did you know there is a spell that displaces a person in time. Specifically it will thrust someone forward in time?"

Hermione's eyes lit up. A spell to thrust someone forward in time? That was it! Her ticket home! She couldn't believe the Headmaster had been able to find a way home for her so soon. "You found a way to send me back! Oh that's fantastic! When can we do the spell? I need to get back as soon as possible."

"Well as I said the spell will push someone forward in time, but that creates a small conundrum. That person who is spelled forward doesn't belong in the future, they are displaced from their rightful time. So along with this spell, there is a counter spell to return the one affected to their rightful time."

"Sir...I don't quite understand what you're trying to say."

"Twelve years ago, the Potter Family experienced a great tragedy. Their youngest, Charlotte, was kidnapped. She vanished without a trace. There was no sign of her death, but at the same time there was no sign she was alive either. Eventually the aurors declared her dead."

"The Potter's had a daughter? I never knew that. I don't think Harry did either, but what does this have to do with me?"

"What do you know about family magic Miss Granger?"

Frustrated that he wasn't answering her questions and that his train of thought seemed to be bouncing from one topic to the other, Hermione groaned. She knew though she wouldn't get her answers unless she followed along. It was simply how the Headmaster worked. "Not much. It's quite hard to research. Most families pass down their knowledge through the generations rather than writing anything down."

"Yes that is true, but there is another aspect of family magic that isn't often discussed. Familial magic recognizes one another. It tends to call out to one another, especially if a close relation is in danger. If one person is weak or injured, someone else from his or her bloodline can help strengthen them, even just by proximity. It helps to ensure the continuation of that bloodline."

Hermione listened intently to what the Headmaster was telling her. It wasn't often somebody was so willing to open up about such a private branch of magic and she was fascinated, but as Professor Dumbledore continued she slowly began to put the pieces together of what he had been saying. James had a sister who was kidnapped. A spell to thrust someone forward in time, and a counter spell to send them back. Family magic calling out to try to restore and protect those of the bloodline. "No."

"No, Miss Granger? May I ask what you are saying no to?" The Headmaster inquired of the young girl.

"No I am not Charlotte Potter. That is impossible. James has simply been acting strange because...because, well I don't know why but it is not because I am his long lost sister. My name is Hermione Jean Granger. My parents are Richard and Helen Granger of London, both dentists. I was born on September 19th, 1979. There is no way that I am the kidnapped daughter of the Potter Family. It's just not possible!"

By the end of her rant, Hermione's voice had become so shrill that it caught the attention of the mediwitch. Madame Pomfrey came bustling over and began to chastise the Headmaster, "Now Albus really! My patient needs rest. I have been kind enough to allow Mr. Potter to stay here all night and day seeing as how he's simply kept watch over her but I will not have you upsetting her. If you can not do that then I must insist that you leave."

"My apologies Poppy. I was trying to deliver my findings to her in a delicate way, but they are still quite upsetting. I promise you it won't happen again," Dumbledore apologized.

"Make sure that it doesn't. I don't care what you or Mr. Potter wants, if anybody upsets her even one more time the both of you will be banned from the Hospital Wing until I have released Miss Granger," the mediwitch scolded the headmaster.

Hermione suppressed a giggle at the old wizard being chastised like a school boy. She definitely appreciated Madame Pomfrey standing up for her, especially considering she didn't want to believe or deal with Dumbledore's findings. She couldn't be Charlotte Potter. It just didn't make any sense. Yes James seemed unusually protective of her for having just met but that didn't mean anything. Too much happened in the past few months for her to be able to properly process everything logically.

"Miss Granger, I'd like you to take this calming draught. It will help and it should help you go back to sleep soon as well," Madame Pomfrey instructed, jolting Hermione from her musings.

After the older witch made sure she finished her potion, she glared at the Headmaster and swept back into her office.

"Now, Miss Granger. I do apologize for upsetting you. Please understand this is only a hypothesis. I wouldn't jump to conclusions if I were you. The Potter's only wish to speak with you before performing a familial spell."

"A familial spell? Why? All it will do is get that poor family's hopes up and they will have enough heartache in their lives. I do not wish to contribute to it!"

"Will have?" Dumbledore inquired. "Are you acquainted with the Potter family in the future?"

Hermione immediately clammed up. She wasn't supposed to reveal anything about the future but in her current emotional state she inadvertently did. She knew she wouldn't be able to lie to the Headmaster so she decided to only give him the bare minimum of information, "Yes, sir."

She should have known he wouldn't accept the bare minimum and the old wizard continued to push, "And how close are you with the family?"

Hermione thought for a second. She was, technically, close with the family seeing as how Harry was the last of the Potter line but she had never met any of the family she believed Dumbledore to be referring to. Though the question did get her thinking about her relationship with Harry. They had always been close, well except for the first couple months of first year, but he saved her from the troll when they weren't friends. He felt the need to protect her and in turn she always felt the need to protect him. The two were instantaneously close in a way that neither could explain so they simply chalked it up to being best friends. He was her brother in all but blood. The more she thought about it the more what Dumbledore implied made sense. But it just couldn't be possible. She couldn't accept that her whole life had been a lie. Hermione could tell though that she was going to be overruled. She decided to tell Dumbledore the bare minimum about her life and allow the familial spell. Then they'll see it was all a misunderstanding and send her home.

"Professor, I understand what you are implying. And yes I am quite close with James Potter's son but that doesn't mean anything. If I was a Potter wouldn't I have remembered something from my life here? Not to mention I look nothing like the Potter family," Hermione tried to logically reason with the Headmaster, "however, I will agree to the familial spell and prove that I'm not who you think I am."

The old Headmaster smiled at the young witch, "Miss Granger have you seen yourself in a mirror recently? You and James look quite a bit alike actually."

"What? I've been in bed for the past 24 hours and I've been a little busy to care about appearances."

Albus pulled out his wand and conjured a mirror for Hermione, and what she saw shocked her. Oh it was still her, she could tell. Her face shape was still the same but her eyes were completely different, they were now a bright hazel instead of her usual mix of chocolate and amber. Her nose, which she always felt was a bit big for her face, was slightly smaller, and her hair still held the crazy unmanageable curls but were now a jet black. A jet black that reminded her a lot of….Harry.

She was completely stunned by her appearance. This was not the same person who she was used to seeing in the mirror. As she studied her appearance, the hospital doors opened once more.

Both current occupants of the Hospital Wing turned to see the elder Potters walk in. Hermione, still in shock over her appearance, simply stared at the family who was getting harder and harder to deny she belonged to. Dumbledore had the usual twinkle in his eye and smiled at the couple.

"Charlus, Dorea! I trust your chat went well. We're just about done here and then we can get started," Dumbledore explained before turning back to Hermione, "Do you have any more questions my dear?"

"No…," Hermione said as she choked back tears, "no, please just perform the spell."

"Excellent! All we will need is a drop of blood from you," he stated while summoning a piece of parchment and setting it on the table next to Hermione's bed.

"Albus could you please wait a moment," Charlus interrupted, "We want to wait for James. He went to get Sirius. He's part of our family as well and deserves to be here for this too. Do you think while we wait you could give us a moment with Char….Hermione?"

Albus hesitated for a moment but acquiesced, "Of course Charlus. I'll be right outside and bring both boys in once they get here."

The other three occupants of the Hospital Wing watched as the Headmaster made his way out of the room before the elder two turned to look at the witch lying in the bed.

Nobody said anything for the first few moments but eventually Hermione broke the silence.

"Hell-hello. We weren't properly introduced before. I'm Hermione Granger," she said with a small smile, feeling a little silly introducing herself to the couple who was potentially her parents. But what else do you say to two people who may or may not be the parents that you never met? The whole situation was bizarre, and that's saying something coming from a muggleborn witch who didn't even know magic existed until she was 11.

The two Potters smiled at the young witch, but it was Dorea who spoke first. "It is very nice to meet you. I am Dorea, and this is my husband Charlus. Do you mind if we sit for a few moments?"

"Oh, please. I am so sorry. That was rude of me not to ask you to sit."

Charlus chuckled while he conjured another chair while his wife sat in the seat the Headmaster previously vacated, "Not at all. This is quite the odd situation. We know this can't be easy for you. We just wanted to maybe get to know you a little while we wait. If that's okay with you of course."

"Oh, umm….sure. How much has Professor Dumbledore told you so far?" Hermione inquired.

Charlus continued, "Not much. What we know is James found you, and you were pretty badly injured. How are you feeling now?"

"Much better. Thank you for asking," she responded with a tired smile.

Dorea gave her a small smile. "Are you sure dear? You look a little peaky?"

"Oh yes. I'm still just a little tired. Nothing a good night's sleep won't fix."

"Well alright," the Potter matriarch acquiesced, "How about you tell us a little more about yourself. Where did you grow up?"

Hermione bit her lip and glanced towards the door hoping the Headmaster would walk back in so she didn't have to have this conversation. How much could she reveal? If she was able to stay in this time, if this was truly her rightful time, there would be so much she could do. There wouldn't be another Hermione Granger for her to run into or have to worry about a time loop, but if she had to return to 1998 she couldn't tell the Potters anything. However, the couple seemed desperate for information and she could tell they were hoping she was their daughter.

"Well, er...I grew up in London, and my par — my parents are dentists," Hermione stammered out, slightly uncomfortable by their stares and very aware that the two people in front of her believed they were her parents, while she talked about the people who raised her. Luckily at that moment the Hospital Wing doors opened again, and Albus Dumbledore, James Potter, and Sirius Black — looking much younger and more carefree than Hermione had ever seen him — walked in.

Hermione had never been happier for a conversation to end in her life. She had no idea what to say to the elder Potters.

As the three wizards approached her bed, the Headmaster conjured three more chairs before he addressed the young witch, "Now Miss Granger, did Charlus and Dorea explain how the familial spell works?"

"No, sir. We hadn't gotten that far yet," Hermione answered the older wizard, and tried her hardest not to look at James or Sirius who were staring quite intently at her.

Charlus then spoke up causing the other occupants of the room to turn towards him, "It's quite simple really. All it requires is a drop of blood from the witch or wizard who's ancestry we are looking in to. Once the spell has been cast the drop of blood will form into your family tree."

Hermione was nervous. She wasn't sure she wanted to know. Her parents never said anything about her being adopted, but she couldn't deny that what Professor Dumbledore had explained earlier made a weird sort of sense. "Alright. I'm ready."

Professor Dumbledore produced a parchment and laid it on the table next to Hermione's bed. She picked up her wand and cast a small diffindo on her finger and let a single drop of blood drip on the parchment. She didn't heal the small cut, not wanting to waste her energy.

It seemed, Mrs. Potter realized, she wasn't going to heal herself, so she reached over to take the young girl's hand, and healed the cut. Hermione looked over at the older witch and gave her a small smile in thanks before Dorea Potter released her hand.

Albus Dumbledore then took his own wand and waved it over the parchment in a complicated pattern and said familias revelio. For a moment nothing happened, then as if an invisible quill was using her blood as ink words began to form. First, in the center of the parchment: Charlotte Dorea Potter. Next to her name was James Charlus Potter, and above were Charlus Henry Potter and Dorea Black Potter.

Everybody in the room stopped breathing for a moment before Dorea burst into tears and hugged the girl as though she would disappear again, while Charlus rubbed his wife's back, and could barely contain the grin that was threatening to split his face in half. James and Sirius simply stared wide eyed at the scene in front of them, in complete shock, while Dumbledore observed the now reunited family with the familiar twinkle in his eye.

After a few moments Dorea composed herself as much as she could and pulled away from Hermione, without fully letting her go. She stared at the young witch, still with tears in her eyes, "Oh Merlin! Charlotte….it's really you! I can't believe it's really you. When can we take her home?" She asked Dumbledore.

Hermione listened to this while trying not to hyperventilate. Her whole life had been a lie. How did this happen? How did Rabastan know she was Charlotte? How could her parents not tell her she had been adopted? Her mind was filled with questions that she didn't know could ever be answered. She looked up with tears running down her face to see James and Sirius staring at her. James with a smile so big it looked like his face would crack in two, and Sirius with an unreadable expression.

"I believe that is up to our esteemed mediwitch. However, it is late and I suggest we all get some rest. Charlus, Dorea you are more than welcome to stay in the guest quarters tonight. James and Sirius should go back to the tower tonight," Dumbledore suggested.

James decided to speak up, "What? No! Now that I know she's Charlotte, there is no way I'm leaving her alone. You saw the state she was in when she arrived"

"Hermione," Hermione interrupted.

James looked back at his long lost sister, "Huh?"

"My name is Hermione, and please just go. I – I can't deal with this right now," she pulled away from Dorea until the older witch dropped her arms from her daughter with a hurt but understanding look on her face.

"James darling," Dorea addressed her son, "perhaps Char–Hermione is right. This is….overwhelming to say the least. We could all do with some sleep. And I'm sure she could do with some time to process everything."

"I agree with James, Mum," Sirius began, "Somebody needs to watch out for her."

"I don't think there is anything to worry about Mr. Black," the Headmaster informed his student, "I can assure you nothing will happen to her while she is here. Hogwarts does have excellent wards."

"But…" Sirius tried to reason.

"That's enough Sirius. We will figure everything out as a family in the morning," Charlus said gruffly, speaking for the first time since the spell had been cast. He then turned to Hermione, his little girl who clearly wasn't so little anymore. He looked at her and could tell she was only a few minutes from breaking down. He spoke quietly, hoping to calm her down, "Why don't you get some sleep? We'll talk more in the morning. I know this has to be a shock to you but I promise everything will work out."

He gave her a sad smile before turning and putting his arm around his wife again.

After finally getting both James and Sirius to leave the Hospital Wing, everybody but Hermione made their way into the hall to head to bed. Hermione took a deep breath to calm herself and laid down hoping to get some sleep. Clearly she wasn't returning to 1998 and now she needed to accept the fact she was never going to see her friends and family again. Well she guessed she would see Harry again but she would be his aunt, not his best friend. He would never rescue her from a troll, they would never sit in front of the fire in the common room laughing with Ron. Everything had changed.