Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Author's Note: Thank you for the positive reviews! The explanation of how Hermione became a Dumbledore is here. I hope you will not be disappointed with this chapter.

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Chapter 3:

September 19, 1993

(Hermione's past)

It was her fourteenth birthday, and she wasn't expecting gifts from Harry and Ron. They knew it was her birthday, but they wouldn't be going to Hogsmeade until October.

As she sat down for breakfast alone (because it was Sunday; Harry and Ron were still sleeping), she got a note from Professor Dumbledore, asking her to come to his office before lunchtime. Hermione did not think much about her meeting with the headmaster later. It was probably about her time-turner. Perhaps, he would discuss some reminders from the ministry. She spent the day in the library, for light reading. She met Fred and George beside her usual table near the Muggle section. She felt a different kind of nervousness. Her mother said it was the "butterflies" in her stomach.

"Hermione!" greeted George merrily, earning a warning bell from Madam Pince. She noticed Fred's cheeks flush and tugged the sleeve of George's robe.

She smiled and approached their table. "Fred, George. Hello," she greeted. "What are you doing this early in the library, of all places?" she teased. She hasn't encountered the Weasley twins before in the library.

"Oh, you know we're - " started George.

"Waiting for you," Fred cut him off.

She rolled her eyes because she knew Fred was being sarcastic.

"To greet you a happy birthday," added Fred.

Hermione froze for a moment. How did he know? Did he wait for me to greet me?

"Happy birthday, Hermione!" greeted George, pulling her for a bone-crushing hug.

Hermione recovered from the shock and returned George's embrace. She patted his arm. "Thanks, George."

"I better go," announced George and he turned to Fred. "Fred, don't forget to ask Hermione about that book."

Fred glared at his twin brother. "Just leave, you, prat!" he told him and sat on the chair again.

When George left, Hermione sat across from Fred, grabbing a random book on their table. They sat and read in silence. Hermione couldn't help herself from stealing glances. He had been her crush since her first year. Since they first met, after Malfoy and his cronies questioned her blood status and pointed out that she had no right to go to Hogwarts because her family wasn't in Sacred Twenty-Eight.

Hermione secretly admired Fred Weasley since September 1st, 1991.

After finishing a children's book, Hermione cast Tempus. It was ten-thirty already, so she got up and started packing. Fred looked up.

"Going somewhere?" he asked kindly.

She smiled. "Professor Dumbledore wishes to speak with me before lunch. I think I should go."

Fred was quickly on his feet and packed his things with a wave of his wand. "Let me walk you to the headmaster's office," he said rather formally and Hermione swore she could hint the nervousness in his voice.

"If it's fine with you," was her reply.

Fred smiled. Hermione saw his distinctive dimple on the left cheek. "It is."

They walked out of the library side by side. Fred suddenly stopped near an alcove. Hermione stopped walking, too and gave him a questioning look. "Fred?"

Fred bit his lower lip and looked at her with a timid smile. "Hermione..." He raked his hair with his fingers and sighed. "I... Listen, I have something to ask you..."

Hermione swore she could hear her heartbeat. She focused on Fred's forehead, instead of his eyes, while waiting for him to continue.

"Do you want to go to Hogsmeade... with me and George?"

That wasn't what she was expecting, but Hermione smiled in relief. She wasn't sure what Fred was about to ask earlier, but if it was something more than a Hogsmeade invitation, she didn't think she was ready. With all the stress she had been dealing with since the term started, she just could not accommodate other matters.

"In October, you know," Fred added. "We know that Harry doesn't have his signed permission slip and lately, Ron's being a prat because of his pet and you have Crookshanks so George and I thought... you know..." He was rambling.

So, Hermione placed a comforting hand on his arm. "You know what? I think its a good idea: going with you and George to Hogsmeade. But only if you promise to let me visit Tomes and Scrolls."

Fred grinned and looked relieved. "Of course, Miss Bookworm."

They walked side by side to the headmaster's office. He stood in front of her when they reached the gargoyle.

"Well, here you are, Miss Granger," he said in a gentlemanly manner.

She grinned and met his brown eyes. "Well, thank you, Mr. Weasley."

Fred patted her head. "See you around."

She nodded. "See you around," she confirmed.

He waited for her to be welcomed by the gargoyle before walking away.

When she arrived at the headmaster's office, she was surprised to see her parents, William and Jeanette Granger. According to Professor Dumbledore, her parents asked permission to take her for lunch at Hogsmeade because they wouldn't be seeing her until Easter. Hermione's parents were bound to the United States in December, so she had to stay at Hogwarts for the Christmas holidays. Hermione left the headmaster's office with her parents, with a thankful heart. She couldn't believe that she would be visiting Hogsmeade two weeks before the third-year students' first-ever Hogsmeade trip.

They arrived in the village and she was about to tell her parents that they should eat at the Three Broomsticks because she heard from Ron that it was where Fred and George would buy Butterbeer. But her father stopped in front of a dingy pub.

"Hog's Head Inn," he said in almost a whisper.

"My love?" called her mother to his father. "It looks... old and dingy."

William Granger turned to them. "Of course we're not going to celebrate Hermione's birthday here," he told them with a smile. "But I remember something. Did I tell you that my grandmother was never married?"

Jeanette Granger nodded, but Hermione shook her head.

"You said, she told you that your grandfather was a soldier," said Hermione's mother.

"Yeah. And he owned a pub called Hog's Head Inn."

Hermione and her mother exchanged curious glances. Then, they saw her father walk towards the pub. "Come on. Let's take a look."

They entered inside and it was unsurprisingly empty. Hermione thought that perhaps it was because it wasn't a Hogsmeade weekend for Hogwarts students. The bar was empty, but William sat at the bar.

"Hello?" her father called, unsure.

An old man with white hair and a long silver beard similar to Professor Dumbledore came from the door near the bar. He was wearing a white apron and when he looked at them, Hermione saw the man's twinkling blue eyes.

The man's eyes were fixed on her as if studying her.

"Excuse me, sir," came William's voice. "Er, my wife and I are Muggles, but our Hermione is a student at Hogwarts. We'd like to try - " But he trailed off.

"What did you say your name was?" the old man who looked awfully a lot like the headmaster asked.

Hermione's father looked shocked for a moment, but he recovered. He offered his hand politely. "William Granger, Mister...?"

"Dumbledore. Aberforth Dumbledore," said the man, shaking William's hand. He noticed Hermione's surprised expression. "Yes, you got it right. Your headmaster is my brother." Then, he turned to William again. "Did you say, Granger?"

"Yes," said her father. "But, did you say your name is Aberforth?"

"I did," replied Mr. Dumbledore.

Hermione's father paled. He turned to her and her mother. Hermione knew why:

Hermione's father was William Aberforth Granger.

Her grandfather's name was Percival Aberforth Granger.

Her late uncle, William's older brother, who died at 18 was Aberforth Leontes.

Having 'Aberforth' for either a first name or a middle name of a son had been a tradition in Hermione's family.

The man, Mr. Dumbledore, disappeared to go back to the door where he came out and when he returned, he was holding an old and rather dusty picture frame.

Looking at William Granger and without breaking eye contact, he handed him the frame. "Do you know this person?"

Hermione and her mother approached William to take a look at the photo. Hermione saw a Muggle photo (it wasn't moving) of a young woman with bushy brown hair, thin lips, and button-like nose. She looked very familiar. And she looked a lot like Hermione.

William ran a thumb on the frame. "My grandmother," he replied.

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September 19th, 1993 was a memorable day for Hermione.

That was the day Hermione turned fourteen; the day she agreed to go to Hogsmeade with Fred... and George; the day her father met his biological grandfather. That day, she learned that her surname was supposed to be Dumbledore, not Granger.