Chapter 2: Making it Memorable
When Hermione left Dumbledore's office, she felt the weight in her chest of the decision she had made. She was going back in time. Leaving all this behind in favour of a life that may or may not be enjoyable. She might not even achieve anything, she might just die in the attempt, or Merlin forbid, make things worse.
Biting her lip, Hermione headed for the Great Hall, suspecting her friends would likely be at dinner.
She stopped in the doorway when she saw them sitting and laughing together and she blinked several times as she tried to burn the image into her memory to keep with her forever. Harry, his hair wild and sticking up all over the place as his glasses fogged up over his steaming pile of mashed potato and sausages. Ginny, laughing about something, both of them dressed in their Quidditch uniforms. Ron was there too, also dressed for practice, chewing with his mouth open and laughing at something Harry had said.
She chose to ignore the fact that Lavender was there too, simpering and sighing over Ron. Looking around the table, she also spotted Neville and Seamus sitting together, Seamus missing an eyebrow from his latest pyrotechnics mishap while Neville poked and prodded at some potted plant he'd brought to dinner with him.
"Are you alright Hermione?" a dreamy voice came from beside her and Hermione looked over to see Luna standing beside her frowning in concern, "You look like you've just had a wrackspurt fly into your ear and make your brain go fuzzy."
Hermione laughed.
"Would you like to have dinner at Gryffindor table Luna?" Hermione asked her, "I'd like to hear more about wrackspurts."
"Oh that would be lovely," Luna said, smiling. Hermione smiled back and looped her arm through Luna's, leading her over to the table.
"Hermione!" Harry called happily, "Where've you been? We looked for you in the library when we got in from practice to have dinner but we couldn't find you."
"Oh, I've been around," Hermione said, "There were some things I needed to discuss with Professor Dumbledore."
Everyone looked at her oddly and Harry raised his eyebrows. Hermione smiled secretively.
"How was practice?" She asked them as she sat down.
"Oh it was great, Ginny's been teaching the other chasers this new technique and Ron's been really improving on his goal-keeping. We're definitely going to thrash Ravenclaw, Luna," Harry said, winking at the dreamy girl in greeting.
Hermione sighed happily, soaking in the familiar moment as she listened to her friends as they discussed training and quidditch, listening to Harry ask her how she was going with the essay for Snape in a voice that told her he was going to ask to see hers later.
A while later, Hermione leaned over to say softly to Ginny, "Listen, Ginny…. You're the most wonderful friend I've ever had…. If…. If anything happens to me…. Could you look after Crookshanks? Make sure he's taken care of and happy?"
"What's going to happen to you?" Ginny and Harry both asked sharply in low voices.
"Nothing… but if it ever does, you know, could you just…. Make sure he's safe?"
"Of course Hermione," Ginny replied, "Is everything alright?"
"Yes. I love both of you, so much," she whispered to them, feeling a lump begin to form in her throat.
"Oh Hermione," Ginny said, her own eyes filling even as the girl dragged her into a warm hug, "You know we all love you too. And nothing's going to happen to you. We'll always be together."
Hermione squeezed her friend tight and she sighed wistfully when Luna drew Ginny into conversation.
"What's going on Hermione?" Harry asked her, his voice low as he leant in close to whisper into her ear. Hermione turned to look at him. Drinking in the sight of the boy who was the closest thing she'd ever had to having a brother. She opened her eyes wide, allowing the image of him to fill up her vision. Those emerald green, almond shaped eyes behind his smudged spectacles. That messy black hair sticking up all over the place no matter how much he tried to pat it down and get it to lie flat.
His kind face and concerned frown as he waited for her to answer him. Hermione couldn't resist as she brought her hand up to cup his cheek affectionately. Harry frowned more, worried now.
"I'm going to make everything better," she whispered to him, "I'm going to fix it. I'm going to make sure you're happy and safe Harry."
"What are you talking about? I already am those things," Harry said, bewildered.
"Harry… if you could see your parents just once more, and Sirius too, what would you say to them?" She asked him softly.
He looked surprised by the question, "I don't know… That I love them… That I miss them… that we'll be together again one day," He responded.
Hermione bit her lip as her eyes filled again.
"You're so wonderful, Harry. So brave, so humble….. Never change."
"Hermione, you're worrying me," he told her, taking her hand from his cheek and squeezing it.
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to. You're the closest thing I have to having a brother…. I just want you to be safe and happy."
Harry frowned, pulling her into a reassuring hug.
"Why do I feel like you're trying to say goodbye?" Harry murmured into her ear. Hermione just squeezed him tighter, breathing in the scent of his soap and the airy scent of his clothes from flying.
He stared into her eyes frowning.
"I'm going home tonight, for a bit," Hermione told him, "I have to see my parents. I just want to make sure that you all know I love you… just in case."
Harry nodded in understanding.
"You'll be fine 'Mione. And you know we love you too."
As he went back to his food, he kept glancing at her worriedly. Hermione smiled reassuringly before turning her gaze on Ron. She'd not spoken to him properly in weeks.
"Ronald?" Hermione said, watching the way he froze mid-chew to glance up at her in surprise while Lavender began staring daggers at her "Could I speak to you for a moment?"
Ron gulped as Hermione got up but he followed her in spite of Lavender's protests. Halfway down the table in a place where they were mostly alone and not likely to be overheard, Hermione sat back down. Ron dropped into his seat next to her.
Hermione took a deep breath in and held it, debating whether or not to tell him the truth about her feelings.
"Hermione?" he asked when she held her breath in silence for several minutes.
"You're a right git, you know?" Hermione informed him.
"Blimey Hermione," Ron exclaimed in surprise when she turned to look at him, "What have I done now?"
"Did you ever even have the slightest clue that I've been in love with you for years?" Hermione asked, throwing it all in, after all, she was going back in time, she'd be in her thirties the next time she saw Ronald Weasley.
"Wh-What?" Ron stuttered in surprise.
"That's why I've been so mad at you and avoiding you when you're with Lavender. I'm in love with you. I think I have been since fourth year…."
"Bloody hell!" Ron breathed and Hermione laughed when she saw the expression he wore when he was thinking that all women were totally barmy.
"I just thought you should know, and wanted to ask if you realised," Hermione said frankly.
"Well, I mean…. I wondered when you got your knickers in a twist about me and Lav…. But then you stopped talking to me so…" Ron stuttered out.
Hermione nodded.
"I'm going to miss you," Hermione said, looking into his familiar blue eyes.
"What do you mean? Are you going somewhere? Did Dumbledore give you some kind of assignment or something?"
"Yes. He did. I haven't told Harry or Ginny. But it means you might never see me again. So I thought you should know before I go that I'm in love with you and it really hurt me when you got together with Lavender."
Before he could respond, Hermione leaned over and hugged him tight.
A part of her wanted to tell him not to forget her, but she knew it would be stupid since she was going back in time and he would have no choice.
"I'll never forget you Ron," Hermione whispered before pressing a kiss to his cheek.
With that said and the most important goodbyes done, Hermione got up and walked over to the teachers table, recalling her mission.
"Professor Snape, could I speak with you for a moment? In private?" Hermione asked him, staring into the dark eyes of the Potions Master turned DADA teacher.
"If this is about the essay, Miss Granger," he warned her in that low, hissing voice, his eyes flashing at being interrupted during his evening meal.
"It's not. It's about something else. Please sir, it won't take long," Hermione said.
Sighing as though she was insufferable, Snape got to his feet and stalked towards the Entrance Hall, his black robes billowing behind him.
"Ah, Severus, Hermione. Just the two people I was looking for" Dumbledore appeared in the doorway looking cheerful, "What were you doing?"
"I was going to ask Professor Snape a few questions," Hermione replied for the both of them, and Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, "Like you instructed."
"Excuse me?" Snape demanded.
"Indeed. Severus, Miss Granger has been instructed by me to ask you several questions and I would appreciate it if you could be as honest with her as possible, without losing your temper. In addition to that, I have arranged it so that you will be able to travel to visit your parents and gather any of the items you will require for your assignment Hermione. Severus, you will accompany Miss Granger to her family home as it is unsafe for a muggle-born witch to be travelling at night alone on the Knight Bus."
Snape looked utterly outraged by both pieces of information and Hermione found herself hoping that he hadn't always been so nasty and difficult, since it was about to become her task to befriend the younger version of the hook-nosed man in front of her.
"I take it you will brook no arguments on this matter nor provide any form of explanation," He replied, lips curling in irritation.
"Miss Granger will explain the situation to you as she sees fit while you travel to her family home in London. Severus, it is vital that you answer all of her questions truthfully and without losing your temper. I would also insist that you acquiesce to any and all requests she makes of you, knowing that she is doing so under my instruction for an assignment she has been given for the Order," Dumbledore replied.
While they spoke, movement caught Hermione's eye and she watched Draco Malfoy descend the stairs. She didn't know why, but as she watched him, Hermione found herself recalling Dumbledore's words earlier that she should make sure her goodbye was memorable. She giggled a little as an idea struck.
"Very well. Miss Granger?" Snape growled, looking less than pleased at the lecture and at being instructed so.
"Just hold that thought Professor, there's one little thing I need to do before I go," Hermione said.
Malfoy wasn't paying any attention to his surroundings, his shoulders hunched and his face downturned as Hermione darted across the Entrance Hall, intercepting his path to the Great Hall. Before he had time to register that it was her, Hermione purposely bumped into him, and when he lifted his head to glare at whoever had the audacity not to move out of his way, Hermione struck.
Pressing herself firmly against him, Hermione reached up and planted her lips on his, snogging him soundly. At first he was so shocked that he didn't react, and then he seemed to war with himself because while one of his arms wrapped around her back pressing her closer, the other clamped down on her shoulder, attempting to shove her backwards even though he was holding her against him.
When he actually kissed back, Hermione slipped her tongue into his mouth, surprised by the minty fresh taste of him. She nearly keeled over in surprise to learn he was an excellent snogger as his tongue flicked out to meet hers, stroking assuredly in a way that sort of made her weak in the knees. From behind her closed lids, Hermione could hear the intake of breath from Dumbledore and Snape, and she heard the footsteps of someone leaving the hall stutter to a stop before running away again followed by a shout.
"Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger are snogging out here!" some gleeful voice shouted and Hermione felt Malfoy tense against her as it occurred to him that he was actually kissing an unknown party without pausing to see who it was. Smirking against his lips even as they both pulled back, Hermione found that it was definitely worth ticking this particular notion off her bucket list.
He glared down at her in open mouthed horror while Hermione smirked at the fact that she'd messed up his neatly combed hair by running her hands through it.
"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing Granger?" Malfoy demanded, looking outraged as his horror grew when he realised it really was her and that he still had one arm looped around her as though he meant to pull her closer again. Behind her she could hear the scraping of benches and patter of feet as the majority of the inhabitants in the Great Hall rushed to see the spectacle of two enemies snogging so publicly.
"Not bad Malfoy," Hermione replied, slipping out of his grip and beginning to stalk away from him.
"You can't just…" Malfoy began furiously but Hermione spun back, cutting him off when she pressed her fingers to his lips to silence him.
"It's too late Malfoy, it's done," She told him unapologetically, "You've officially snogged a mudblood. Make sure your father hears about this."
Turning and leaving him sputtering in his fury, Hermione strode back over to Snape and Dumbledore. The latter had an amused and curious tinkle in his eyes.
"Make it memorable, right?" Hermione said, winking at the Headmaster.
"Indeed. Fifty points to Gryffindor!" he replied before striding over to a still stammering Malfoy, "Ah, Mr Malfoy, so good to see you. You look troubled, but fear not young man, all your troubles will soon be inconsequential."
"Shall we be off, Professor?" Hermione asked cheerfully, pretending not to notice the flurry of students that were crowded in the door of the Great Hall having heard of the spectacle she'd just made with Malfoy.