Wow! I can't believe it has been almost a year since I've updated this story. I am sure many of you have thought it abandoned, and I'm not going to lie there have been many times where I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to continue any of my stories. However, I am back with an update of Correction, and hopefully will be getting a new chapter of Lady Potter out by the end of the week. I don't think I can apologize enough for the wait, but just know all of the reviews and messages of encouragement have meant more than I could ever express in words. I do hope I still have some readers after such a long absence, and hopefully, I will be able to entice some new readers as well. I will do my best to not make all of you wait so long again.
Here is chapter 14 of The Correction of Time. It is unbeta-ed so I apologize for any mistakes. It is not as long as previous chapters but it felt like a good time to cut it off. Please review, favorite, follow if you have not already. Your encouragement is food for my muse! Thank you again for everything all of my readers have already done!
Chapter 14
The small celebration didn't last very long as the Marauders had informed the rest of their friends, who were all waiting at The Three Broomsticks to celebrate with the former Head Boy and Girl. James tried to insist that Hermione accompany them so he could introduce her around as well, but she firmly declined, insisting she wanted to get her classes for next year sorted out first; though James did manage to extract a promise that if she didn't take too long she would join them.
James, Lily, Sirius, Remus, and Peter all headed out the front doors of the castle, while Professor McGonagall headed back to her quarters, leaving the Potters and Dumbledore alone.
"Shall we head to my office to discuss the particulars?" the Headmaster suggested.
The three Potters nodded in agreement and followed the older wizard through the castle for a more private setting.
After the four of them were settled, Hermione decided to set the tone of the meeting before Dumbledore was able to take control. She had relinquished the details of the previous years to her parents but refused to allow the Headmaster more fuel for any of his manipulations. While she knew he meant well, he was too focused on "the greater good" with very little concern for the pawns he felt he had to sacrifice.
"Before we start I want to make it very clear Headmaster," Hermione began, "I will not be working for you against You-Know-Who. We work together or my family and I will do this on our own."
Dumbledore took a minute to study the young witch. "Miss Potter, I promise you we have the same goals. The only way to bring down Voldemort is if we do work together. I and the Order don't work against you."
"You say that now, yet the Albus Dumbledore I knew made it very clear not to tell anybody the mission I was on. The Order did not work together, which in the end cost many lives." While not entirely true, Albus allowed Harry to tell herself and Ron, she wasn't ready to reveal anything about Harry or the prophecy. As far as she was concerned, she was going to stop this before the prophecy should even be made. She wasn't entirely sure when Sybil Trelawney met with the Headmaster but she believed it to be sometime in early 1980.
"May I ask what this mission I sent a child on is?" He inquired.
Hermione glanced at both her mother and father. They knew this wasn't easy for her. She didn't want to trust the headmaster, but despite all her bravado of going this alone she knew deep down, she didn't have a chance to succeed without the older wizard. Both elder Potters gave her a nod of encouragement to continue. "Professor, have you ever heard of a Horcrux?"
Albus Dumbledore paled. "How do you know about such things?" He whispered.
"I was searching for them. Almost all of them were destr ー"
"Them?" Hermione was interrupted by Dumbledore. "How man...how many did Tom make?"
"Six Horcruxes. A total of seven pieces of his soul."
"Dear Merlin!" Albus Dumbledore leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed, clearly horrified by how far his former student had fallen.
Hermione allowed the professor a moment to collect his thoughts. She was happy to have her parents there for support, she just hoped by having them know her story and about the Horcruxes she hadn't signed their death warrant. After a minute or two, the Headmaster sat up straight and leaned forward with his hands clasped together and a hard glint in his eyes, he stared at the three sitting in front of him. "What do we know now?
The young witch took a breath. She knew he would take this seriously, but she was glad to see his resolve to finish this. She didn't see a general ready to sacrifice his troops, she saw another soldier ready to fight alongside her. "As of now, I believe there are only four maybe five. One I am certain of its location, another a general idea, and the other two I know where they will end up but I am unsure of when they are placed. As for the fifth, I know where it will eventually be placed sometime next summer. If it has been made already and not within the next year, I have no idea where it would be hidden."
"And the sixth?"
"In my timeline, in about three years he disappears. His powers were broken and most people thought he was dead. Gone for good. About thirteen years after this he gains a new body and comes back to full strength, he doesn't make the sixth Horcrux until then." She refused to give him more than the bare minimum of information.
Dorea decided to jump in to prevent any questions she knew Hermione didn't want to answer. "How about we focus on the ones we do know of for now?"
"The good news is one of the Horcruxes is relatively easy to find. In fact, it's here in the castle. The bad news is we don't have a way to destroy it." She revealed.
"In the castle? Where in the world could he possibly have hidden it?" Charlus spoke for the first time since he entered the office. She hadn't told them exactly where or what the Horcruxes were but he couldn't quite believe the audacity of the dark wizard.
"He did it when he came to ask for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position, didn't he?" Dumbledore inquired.
"That is what you believed yes. It's in a place called the Room of Requirement, however, it will most likely take a while to find. The room is quite...vast," Hermione admitted.
Dumbledore remained silent, clearly deep in thought. "I believe we need to be cautious in how we approach this." Hermione nodded her head in agreement. "We do not want to alert Voldemort to anything until we have to. I will begin to work on how to destroy the Horcruxes. Dorea, Charlus if you could join me on this? Discreetly of course. Hermione, until we know more find the Horcrux in the castle but leave it where it is. We will remove it once we have a way to get rid of it."
Hermione thought it over for a moment. "I will tell you I know basilisk venom and Fiendfyre can destroy Horcruxes. However, we don't have basilisk venom and I don't know anyone who is able to control Fiendfyre so if either of you can find another way, and I will do my best to locate it."
"Excellent!" Dumbledore declared as if they hadn't just been plotting the downfall of the darkest wizard in living memory. "There is one more thing we should discuss before the three of you depart: your seventh year."
Dorea decided to take the lead on this part of the conversation. She had learned over the weeks the two had gotten to know each other how much Hermione abhorred being the center of attention. "Albus, we were hoping Hermione would be able to either stay in her same house or be sorted now. There is no need to make a spectacle during the Welcoming Feast."
"Understandable, however, I do insist she use the Sorting Hat once more."
"Please," Hermione began, "Is that really necessary? I was sorted into Gryffindor. I'd much rather stay in the place I'm most comfortable."
"That is precisely why I believe you should be re-sorted. Sometimes I think we sort too soon. You may still be a Gryffindor, but my guess is you have changed immensely since your 11th birthday. Yes? The house of Godric may not be the best fit. Do you not want to make the most of the rest of your time here?" The Headmaster inquired.
Hermione narrowed her eyes. The Headmaster had a point, but who cared? Hermione Granger was a Gryffindor. She didn't belong in any other house and if she had to wear the stupid Hat again to prove it, she would play along. "Fine but I want to do this now. I agree with my mother. I don't want to create a spectacle in front of everybody."
"Of course my dear," Professor Dumbledore acquiesced. He stood to grab the patched Hat from the shelf behind his desk, walked around and deposited it on the curly-haired witch's head.
Well hello there. This is unusual. Normally I am only called on once a year.
Yes, yes. I'm a miracle I know. Can we please do this as quickly as possible? I've been sorted in Gryffindor once before, may I please just go there again? It's home.
Wait one second, I believe I decide where you go.
Of course, but I do know you take our choices into account. Yes?
On occasion, I have been persuaded however only when the individual in question would be a good fit for the house. You on the other hand. I see you have the qualities for the House of Godric. Your situation is unique. I have never Sorted a time traveler before. I can see you've fought bravely. Defending your loved ones, fighting for what is right.
Exactly I belong in Gryffindor.
I also see what you must do. In order to succeed, to achieve your goals, simple bravery alone will not do. You must be cunning and cautious.
No ...don't you dare say it. I am Hermione Granger. I belong in Gryffindor
I know what you desire but you are not just Hermione Granger, are you? Hermione Granger may have belonged in Gryffindor, but Hermione Potter? She follows in the footsteps of her mother. She belongs in ...SLYTHERIN!
After the last word was shouted, Hermione muttered, "Stupid hat," while she took it off and handed it back to the Headmaster, who was looking at her with curiosity. She turned to her parents to find her father looking slightly disappointed but had a smile on his face nonetheless, and her mother was absolutely beaming.
"Oh! Well done love. At least one of my children shares my house," Dorea celebrated.
While not her first choice, actually her absolute last choice, Hermione couldn't help but smile at how happy her mother was. "Let's just hope James feels the same way," she joked.
"Don't worry about your brother. He'll be fine, and if not I'll set Pippy on him," the Potter Matriarch said with a smirk, to which everybody in the room chuckled.
"Now that we have you Sorted," Albus interrupted the family moment, "Let's quickly finalize your classes and then the three of you should be on your way."
"Of course. I originally planned to take as many NEWTs as possible. Definitely Transfiguration, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Herbology, Arithmancy, and Ancient Runes. Would that be possible?" the newest Slytherin student questioned.
"Are you sure you want to take that much, love?" Charlus asked. "That is quite the undertaking. I don't want you overwhelming yourself."
Hermione assured her parents and the Headmaster she would be okay with 7 NEWT classes, to which all three eventually agreed. After being assured he would arrange her schedule and send her book list in the next few days, the three Potters took their leave and headed towards Hogsmeade. The elder Potters planned to apparate home, while Hermione convinced her parents to allow her to head by herself to the Three Broomsticks.
After separating from her parents, Hermione thought about the first time she wore the Sorting Hat. She guessed she shouldn't be surprised, the Hat did briefly mention Slytherin but didn't seriously consider it due to her muggleborn status. She didn't know exactly how she was going to get through living in the dungeons and not the tower. So much had been taken from her. Her life, her path, had changed so drastically, she really wanted one small piece of the home she grew up in.
What would Harry and Ron think? Hermione Granger in Slytherin, but she guessed the hat was right. She isn't just Hermione Granger, she is Hermione Potter. She also didn't know how she would have handled going into the Gryffindor Common Room every day, half expecting to see her two best friends and forever being disappointed. The thought of the two of them still made her heart ache, a feeling she didn't expect to go away anytime soon if ever. Hermione hoped a new House would give her the distance needed so she wouldn't be overwhelmed with grief on a daily basis, besides being a Slytherin may give her more access to the people she needed to potentially get close to.
"You know a proper Pureblood witch, shouldn't be wandering alone."
Hermione, startled having been lost in thought, met the grey eyes of Regulus Black and he wasn't alone, accompanied by a familiar young man with dark auburn hair. "It's a good thing I'm not a proper Pureblood witch then isn't it?"
Regulus smirked. "Oh, I wouldn't say that."
"You seem to have forgotten I was raised by Muggles," she countered.
The young man accompanying the youngest Black scoffed in response to which Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Is there a problem?
Before he could formulate a response, Regulus jumped in. "Allow me to introduce you. Miss Potter, Rabastan Lestrange. Rabastan, this is Hermione Potter."
No! It couldn't be. This man couldn't be the same person she fought against. The same man who forced her into the past. She hadn't figured out how he knew the truth about her. Did this version of Rabastan Lestrange know where she came from? Did anyone else in his family? If he or any other Death Eater knew, her life was forfeit. Her family's lives were forfeit. She knew she would eventually be surrounded by Death Eaters, but she needed to be even more careful around this particular one.
"How do you do Mr. Lestrange," Hermione cordially responded with a nod of her head, unsure how to act around one of the men who would eventually torture the Longbottom's into insanity, but decided she would be better served by acting as if she knew nothing for the time being.
"You as well Miss Potter," the future (or current, as she didn't know when he was marked) Death Eater commented with a slight air of disdain, clearly uncomfortable around the Potter witch.
Hermione continued to observe the youngest Lestrange with timid curiosity, while he attempted to look anywhere but at the young witch. It was strange for her, seeing the same Death Eater who once tried to kill her and her friends at the end of her fifth year. Rabastan Lestrange never directly interacted with her until the Battle at Hogwarts, so it was slightly easier keeping up the facade around him, though not by much. She had no idea what she would do if she ever ran into Dolohov in this time, or Merlin forbid Bellatrix.
"Well now that introductions are made," Regulus broke the slightly awkward silence, "Why don't we accompany you to wherever you are headed? As I said, it's not proper for a witch of your station to wander around alone."
"Thank you but I'll be okay. I'm just meeting my brother and some of his friends at the Three Broomsticks," she protested.
Surprisingly, it was Rabastan who responded. "Please, we insist Miss Potter."
While Hermione knew it would be rude to outright refuse again, she did not feel completely comfortable spending any amount of time in the presence of any Lestrange. However, she didn't see a way to get out of the current situation. At the very least she knew how to defend herself if this walk managed to go south. She had managed to hold her own during the battle before she arrived in the past, she was sure she could handle a Rabastan Lestrange who didn't have the years of being a Death Eater under his belt.
"Alright. Thank you." Hermione eventually acquiesced.
"So Miss Potter," Regulus attempted to diffuse the awkward tension he did not quite understand. "What brings you to Hogsmeade today?"
"My parents and I met with the Headmaster to discuss my schedule, and so I could be Sorted before the start of the school year. I didn't want a big to-do in front of the whole school." Despite being semi-displeased with her Sorting, Hermione realized she would at least know one person in her House; whereas she wouldn't have known anybody in Gryffindor or any of the other Houses.
Rabastan responded rapidly with a sneer, "I assume you'll be a Gryffindor like the rest of your family."
Hermione glanced at the youngest Lestrange and narrowed her eyes. She never took well to the snotty attitude the Purebloods typically expressed. While she was used to it as a mudblood, she refused to tolerate it. "As a matter of fact, I'll be following in my mother's footsteps."
Regulus raised a single eyebrow, the only expression to show that he was shocked by this revelation. "You've been sorted into Slytherin?"
"Yes, I have. Mother is quite excited," she said with a small smile, knowing how much it really did mean to her mother.
"I believe congratulations are in order. Rabastan and I will make sure you feel most welcome come the start of the school year."
"Oh?" Hermione took another opportunity to glance at Rabastan. "You're still in school as well?"
The wizard caught her eye as he seemed to analyze her in a new light: the Slytherin Potter. "I am a seventh year as well. So it seems we will be seeing a bit more of each other."
Hermione simply nodded as she didn't know what to say. She did not want to be seeing more of him, but it would clearly be unavoidable. Luckily she realized they were finally approaching the pub.
"Thank you very much for the escort but I believe I will be okay from here."
Both wizards gave short bows at her request and bid her a good day.
Hermione turned to walk into The Three Broomsticks before she stopped and turned back. "Oh, Regulus!" She called.
The Black wizard turned around as well, "Yes?"
"I never did thank you for the book. It's been very informative." She smiled.
Regulus simply gave a short nod in acknowledgment before he followed his friend deeper into the small village.
Hermione shook her head not fully understanding what Regulus's motives were. Did he simply want to be friends? Or was it something else? She knew he defected from the Death Eaters eventually but from what Sirius told her in the past, or in the future, in her past. From what Sirius told her in her past Regulus did believe in the rhetoric Voldemort spewed. He joined the Death Eaters believing in the cause. She knew he had good in him, she just didn't know how deep down that good was at the current moment.
Whatever his reasons were, it was something she could worry about later. For now, she had a celebration to get to. Though she was going to make sure this time around Harry had his parents, that didn't mean she wasn't going to soak up every memory she could so one day, when her nephew asked, she would be able to tell him everything.