Chapter 6: Truth or dare?

7th of September 1999

The rest of her day was spent pleasantly enough and even though Hermione still felt uncomfortable spending time alone with two strangers that could very well be her dad, her unconsciousness had accepted the situation and Hermione managed to relax somewhat in their presence. Fabian joined the two of them for dinner, which he promptly provided in form of take-away. He had somehow managed to get his hands on Chinese noodles and Hermione gave a hum of delight after she took the first spoon full into her mouth.

"Gods, that's delicious," she said with big eyes and he grinned at her.

"Still like the stuff, do you?" he said with a twinkle of his eyes.

"You knew?" she said somewhat shocked before realization hit her. "Of course you knew. Sorry, it's just all so strange. You seem to know quite a lot about me and I know almost… nothing."

He smiled kindly at her. "That will change Hermione, don't worry. The healer said your memory will come back. We just need to be patient with each other and let you meet the right people."

Hermione wanted to grumble, but then she put another mouth full of the delicious food into her mouth and sighed in delight. "You really do know, how to make a girl feel better, do you?"

He grinned self-assuredly and Hermione grinned back, before asking with a cheeky grin: "Broken many hearts, have you? Any girlfriend I need to know about? Not that I mind," she said quickly after she saw Gideon choking on his food with a beet-red face. "…I just don't want to stumble upon anything and cause unnecessary embarrassment."

Fabian looked at her with a slight blush on his cheeks but seemed otherwise unaffected compared to his brother, who was wheezing to his left. "No girlfriend or boyfriend for that matter. So don't worry. You won't stumble across anything compromising or embarrassing." Hermione nodded in satisfaction. That was another sliver of information she could file away about those two. But there was a thought that kept nagging her and she looked at them shyly.

"May I ask why? I mean, you don't have to answer if you don't want to. I don't want to make you uncomfortable or anything. I'm just curious and you two seem like eligible bachelors," she ended and couldn't help the blush that crept on her cheeks.

Gideon looked at her with wide eyes and now also Fabian couldn't hide his nervousness. He looked at her for a long moment and seemed to think about his answer carefully. "Gideon and I, we are magical twins," he said and studied her reaction.

She nodded unconcernedly. "Like Fred and George, yes?" she asked and couldn't help but remember George's suffering eyes before she left him in her original time.

Fabian smiled in relief. "Exactly. So you see, the concept of magical twins can be somewhat disconcerting to some witches, especially muggle-born ones like you."

Hermione looked at the two of them with furrowed brows and tried to make sense of his words. But as hard as she tried, there seemed to be a piece of information missing for her to figure out what he was trying to tell her. "Ehm, I think I don't understand," she said carefully and at that, she heard Gideon groan with mortification. But before she could say something to him, he bit out:

"We prefer dating the same witch," before looking at her and waiting for her reaction. And then she understood and she could feel the blood rushing into her cheeks.

"Oh," she said and tried to find something else to say, but no matter how hard she tried, she didn't find something that didn't sound wrong, insulting or embarrassing. And she really didn't want to offend her hosts. But Fabian seemed to have been prepared for her speechlessness and just smiled kindly at her. "Don't worry about us, Hermione. The right person simply hasn't shown up, yet. But we haven't given up hope quite yet and we are still in our prime." He puffed is chest proudly and for a moment she had to admit, that he was truly well built. Fabian and Gideon were both tall and muscular and the longer she interacted with them, the younger they seemed to her. There almost weren't any wrinkles on their faces that still seemed almost boyish to her and they were just so full of life that their age seemed to melt from them when Hermione looked at them from time to time. She smiled at them encouragingly. "I'm sure there's someone out there that is destined for the two of you. Love isn't always simple or straight forward but if you are really destined to be with someone, then love will find a way, don't worry." At that, something shifted in their faces and they smiled at her. And Hermione's heart clenched in pain, as she thought about Ron and that he didn't even remember her now. But she would take her own advice, she decided. If they were meant to be with each other, then love would find a way for them.

8th of September 1999

The next day brought an unexpected visitor to the house and for moment Hermione had to look twice, before believing that the man was truly standing in front of her in the middle of their shared living room.

"Professor Dumbledore," she said with wide eyes and the old man smiled at her with a twinkle in his own, before sitting down in a wing chair across of her.

"I see my sources have been right. You truly managed what I haven't thought possible. Congratulations Miss Granger."

She looked at him confusedly, before turning around to study her host's reaction. But they had already sat themselves down of the sofa again and looked at the man with a guarded expression. Interesting. "Well, thank you, I guess. Even though I am not exactly sure, what you are congratulating me for. You see, my memory is quite patchy at the moment and I still have some problems to remember most of the time I spent in the past."

The professor nodded at her with a kind smile. "That is to be expected, I guess. Time travel is a complex and still not fully researched thing. I warned you back then, that meddling with time can have some rather unpleasant or even unexpected side effects."

She nodded darkly. "Yeah, I was quite surprised to wake up only to realize, that my best friends no longer know me." The fact that this was also true for her boyfriend she left out, as she thought that this was no business of her meddlesome ex-headmaster.

Dumbledore cast her a grandfatherly smile. "You'll realize that this is just one of the side effects of your interferences with time. As I told you before, it has always consequences if one meddles with time and usually, there is a price to pay."

She nodded gravely but didn't interrupt him.

"I don't want to discourage you, Miss Granger, quite the contrary. What you achieved is remarkable and I do admire your dedication to your friends. But I do understand the hardships of making important decisions and making sacrifices for the greater good. If you need some help or advice one day, don't hesitate to come to me."

"Thank you, sir," Hermione replied with moist eyes and a tight throat. He was right of course. Hermione knew about his history with Grindelwald even though this version of Dumbledore might not be aware of her knowledge. Dumbledore knew what it meant to make hard decisions and lose his love to a war. He had even duelled Grindelwald in the end and Hermione could only guess, how hard that must have been for him. At least she would be spared from that fate. "That means a lot to me."

The professor nodded. "There might also be some aspects of your time travel that I'd like to discuss with you, as soon as you regained some more of your memories. Don't worry about it quite yet, but there are still one or two hard decisions, that might lie ahead of you. But first, you need to reacquaint yourself with your new life. If there is anything I can help you with in particular…"

Hermione chewed on her lower lip and looked at him nervously. "Well, there might indeed be something. You see, back in my old time, I was just about to sit for my NEWTs. And as I will need to make a living out of something sooner or later and I don't even have a birth certificate at the moment…" She trailed off as the gravity of that problem hit her. But the headmaster just smiled encouragingly.

"Of course Miss Granger. I can arrange for you to sit your NEWTs privately at a time of your choosing. Or would you prefer returning to Hogwarts for another year?"

She shook her head vehemently. "No, I'd prefer just to sit my NEWTs and prepare for them on my own. Don't get me wrong, I love Hogwarts, but so many memories are connected to that place, memories that might not even be true any longer. I… don't think I could deal with that just now."

"I understand, my dear. Just send me an owl with an estimate of the time you'll need to prepare yourself. I'll arrange the rest." With that, he got up from his chair and looked at the three of them with a serious expression.

"Well then, I don't want to impose myself any longer on you. It's been a pleasure, as always gentlemen, Miss Granger." He bowed towards them before he turned to the door and Fabian and Gideon followed him out. Hermione remained at her place on the wing chair and stared into space contemplatively. There was a lot she had to think about in the next days.

27th of April 1981

Even though Hermione was nervous what the next day would bring for her, she slept like a stone. In her dreams she saw George, still suffering from the loss of his magical twin but on top of that he was looking for her now - and couldn't find her anywhere. Merlin, she really hoped this weren't some sort of visions that made her see what happened back in her time. Would time there move on without her? And would her friends be searching for her?

The morning found her still refreshed and to her relieve there was a set of fresh clothes on a chair next to her bed. It was a simple pair of muggle jeans and a jumper that could as well have belonged to one of the twins, but she didn't mind. The clothes were clean and whole, not like her own ones that had badly suffered from her fight against those death eaters. She'd have to replace them sooner or later, but as she didn't have a knut in her pocket right now, she'd have to do with borrowed ones. Still, she'd have to think of something to make a living out of, because she didn't know, if she would have to remain in this timeline or would be sent back, as soon as she had fulfilled her promise towards George. And until then she'd really prefer not to live of wild berries and mushrooms again.

The kitchen was already occupied when Hermione finally found her way down. Fabian and Gideon were sitting at the kitchen table and were discussing magical theory of some kind, but it was nothing Hermione was familiar with. She stood in the open door and looked at them uncertainly, as she wasn't sure if they rather wanted to eat their breakfast in peace.

"Come in Hermione," Gideon said from the table without looking up. "Fabian made ham and eggs which is one of the better things the two of us manage to throw together. Better get your share before it's all gone." He smiled at her kindly and Hermione smiled back.

"Alright, thank you. I just didn't want to intrude or anything."

He waved her of unconcernedly. "Don't worry about that. We really don't mind."

She shrugged and sat herself down at the table next to Gideon, where she ate in silence. Gideon and his brother continued their discussion after some hesitation and after a while, Hermione realized, that they were discussing different warding concepts and the use of varying rune alphabets to do the task. Hermione was fascinated.

Before she knew it the food on her plate was gone, even though she hardly remembered eating it. What a difference it could make if one wasn't bored to death by never-ending quidditch discussions during the meal.

"I think our guest has just arrived," Fabian said suddenly and got up from his chair. "The wards have just informed me that there is a visitor on the front door."

Gideon nodded. "Hermione, I'll accompany you to our study. Fabian will join us with our guest in a minute."

She nodded solemnly and followed him without another word. The study was located upstairs in a room not far from her bedroom. It reminded her a bit of Dumbledore's office, as every surface seemed to be cluttered with various magical trinkets, that were moving in some kind of shared rhythm, even though each of them seemed unique and Hermione couldn't name the function of one of them. Gideon must have caught her fascinated stare because he grinned at her proudly.

"These are some of our shared projects," he explained while offering her a chair in front of the huge magagony desk. "Fabian is very good at transfiguring various object, while I enjoy charming them afterwards. It's not always easy to do so without reversing the transfiguration, but we are making good progress."

Hermione nodded in awe. "Sounds like you are a good team," she said and couldn't help but look around in the room with glowing appreciation. This was almost as good as visiting a large book shop and Hermione would have loved to study all of these little devices while asking the two of them millions of questions. But she doubted that she would even be allowed to touch one, as long as she hadn't earned their trust.

The door to the study was opened behind her and Hermione turned around in her seat to see, whom Fabian and Gideon had brought to her questioning. She recognized the old wizard in his midnight blue robes that were decorated with twinkling stars immediately. He almost looked the same as Hermione remembered him, white hair and beard, a long nose and twinkling blue eyes that were hidden behind his characteristic half-moon glasses.

"Professor Dumbledore," she greeted him respectfully and got up from her chair to greet him. The old man was looking at her with unveiled interest and bowed his head in greeting, before he set down behind the desk, while the two brothers seated themselves on both of her sides.

"Interesting," her old headmaster finally said and looked at her with curious eyes. "I remember every student that attended Hogwarts since I started there as a professor. I am pretty sure, that I have never before seen you at school and still you call me professor. How is that, Miss Granger?"

Hermione swallowed heavily. She had never been in the sole focus of the headmaster and even though Harry had been very fond of the man, Hermione felt rather uncomfortable under his gaze. She knew, that the man was a very skilled Legilimens and Occlumens and she had no illusions that it would be impossible to lie to him. But she didn't plan on doing that, as the man could be her biggest enemy or her biggest ally. And if she was lucky he would even be willing to help her.

She raised her chin proudly and looked at him. "I am sorry Professor, but I am not sure if this is a conversation that is safe to be listened in." She pointed her eyes at the men next to her. "But I know you are quite a skilled Legilimens and maybe it would be acceptable for you, to find the answers for yourself."

He looked at her with raised brows. "Do you mean to tell me, that you are inviting me into your mind, Miss Granger? This is highly unusual."

She sighed wearily and nodded. "I am quite reluctant to do so sir, but I need to be careful with my secrets. I encourage you to be careful with browsing to deeply though. You might find things you'd really rather not know about."

The professor looked at her with fascination and nodded. "Very well. I'll take a quick peek into your head and see, what this is all about. Afterwards, we can decide how to proceed with this conversation."

Hermione nodded again but couldn't avoid stiffening in her chair, as panic threatened to overwhelm her. She didn't really care to have her mind invaded, but she also knew that she needed Dumbledore to trust her and he was one of the very few people in this time, she knew well enough to trust with her secrets. Still, she kept her eyes open and locked to his, as she felt him take the Elder Wand into his thin fingers. But she couldn't suppress the shiver of fear that crept over her.

"Don't worry Miss Granger, this won't hurt," the old man promised and with a silent wave of his wand, he was suddenly in her mind. It felt strange having him there but he had been right, it didn't hurt at all. Instead, she could feel his strong and calm presence within her and she could see the memories he was looking at. There were glimpses of her childhood that he quickly skipped, some quick impressions of her Hogwarts days and her youth and finally the war. He didn't look too closely, as he seemed to have her warning in mind, but it was enough to grasp the problem they were facing and the decision they had to make. It didn't take long until he pulled back from her mind and when Hermione blinked her eyes open again she realized, that she had keeled to the side and was now resting against Gideon's shoulder. She looked up at him with embarrassment.

"Sorry about that," she mumbled and pulled back from him hastily. But the man just stared at her oddly, before focussing back on the headmaster. Hermione followed his example.

"Well headmaster?" she said with as much courage, as she could muster. "Could you find the answers you were looking for?"

When Dumbledore looked back at her, he suddenly looked very much like the old man, he really was. He sighed. "I have, Miss Granger. And I think we have very much to discuss."

She nodded solemnly. "That we do. Should we… meet in a more private setting? Or would you rather discuss things… here?"

At that, she felt Fabian and Gideon shift next to her uncomfortably and Dumbledore studied them for a long moment. "I do understand your need for keeping information close to your vest, Miss Granger, but I think you can trust the two of them. They owe you a life debt after all."

Hermione stared at the old man in front of her contemplatively. He was the one who had after all only entrusted the secrets of Voldemort's Horcruxes with three teenagers and still kept them in the dark as long as possible. What had happened to the man in front of her that encouraged her to trust these two complete strangers, to make such a paranoid man out of him? Hermione didn't know but she decided to trust his judgement.

"Very well," she agreed and looked at the three of them solemnly. "We better get some tea. Because this conversation might take a while."