A\N: Hey guys! Sorry for such a long break in uploads but work life got a little hectic! But I'm back with a brand new chapter! I would like to say a huge thank you to the people who took the time to review, they are seriously my inspiration to continue! As always nothing recognizable is mine! Please take some time to review, I really appreciate any and all respectable feedback.
Hermione stared at the glowing red spell in mid-air. It was one thing to theorize, that she had indeed time traveled back to 1942. It was an entirely different thing to be faced with it as a reality. Something so fantastical, even by wizarding standards, that her mind couldn't entirely wrap around her circumstance. Thoughts flew in and out of her mind at a speed that made it difficult to focus. She had to take a calming breath and sort them into a to do list. Having a list, some sort of order, helped Hermione.
She took another deep breath and lot it out slowly. First she had to get to the castle. She knew Dumbledore was at Hogwarts during this time. The first page of the journal was a letter to himself that he wrote. Hermione figured it had been the Orders plan to send someone back and this would be the best way to get the help that person would have needed. A sub note to the first item on her list was to devise a way that she would get in to the castle without arising suspicion. She wasn't a Muggle, so the wards should let her in no problem, but should she be seen in her modern clothes in a time in which no other person would recognize her, could prove very troublesome.
Next on her do list, after actually gaining entrance to the castle was to find Dumbledore. Again form the journal and general knowledge, she knew Dumbledore was the transfiguration teacher during this time so if she just looked for him where she would look for McGonagall in her time, she would have a high chance in finding him.
Here is where the list got a little harder to make. From her scan of the journal and its contents she knew Dumbledore intended, who ever took this mission, to take on the young dark lord. Just the thought made her feel queasy. She wasn't even in the Order! How could she even contemplate taking on a mission that someone much more qualified, not to mention older, should have been doing. Before her mind could start racing again she took a breath, steadying herself. First things first she had to get to the castle.
She opened her beaded bag and accio'ed a robe from within. She imagined that even a plain wizarding robe would help her blend in, at least until she could find Dumbledore. She put the journal and satchel into the bag then walked towards the large gleaming castle. She had done this walk before, she had landed not far from where the thestrals usually dropped the older students who didn't take the boats to the castle.
As she walked, she attempted to come up with her back story. She argued to herself about her name for some time. Going back and forth about the merits to being a half blood or muggleborn in this time. If she decided to take on this mission, half-blood seemed the logical choice, she would never pass for pure blood as they all kept precise birth, death and marriage records. However she wasn't totally convinced she wanted to take on this mission. It was clearly an Order level mission and she wasn't the intended recipient. If she just told Dumbledore what happened maybe she could fly under the radar and work towards getting home.
She sighed, home brought up a whole other set of thoughts and problems. Her just being here could have messed up the time line. However, a small part of her brain, the part that wanted her to take the mission on, figured maybe she was meant to come back to this time and do her part in the war. She had always been smart and helped Harry and the light side any way she could, but this was a chance to really do something. Not study or be the side kick. This was an opportunity for her to help hundreds of people in her time.
She couldn't help but feel a little selfish at the thought. She shouldn't be thinking of how the mission would be benefitting her. She felt dirty considering doing it for any type of personal glory. But her over active brain countered, does the glory take away from the actual good of the deed? Would her wanting to be the one that stood up and actively do something change the fact that the act had been done?
She wrestled with her moral and philosophical side for some time. Before she knew it she could see the large wooden doors to the front of the school. Usually the sight of these doors was welcome, bringing a smile to her face. But at this moment they caused Hermione to chew nervously on her bottom lip. She gave a tentative push on the large door, expecting it to be locked. To her amazement, the door gave way and creaked open. Her eyes went wide in terror as she imagined that the sound would alert to her intrusion.
When no one came to investigate the sound she pushed the door slightly and slipped in, closing it behind her as gently as she could. She took in her surroundings and found that they looked just as she remembered it. It was almost jarring to see the familiar sight in a not familiar context. Hermione chose not to dwell on these thoughts for now. She could hear noise coming from behind two more large wooden doors, the Great Hall, and figured that dinner was being served. If she hurried she could make her way to the transfiguration classroom and wait there, in hopes the Dumbledore would visit after dinner.
Being friends with Harry Potter had their perks, one of which was learning how to go unnoticed when necessary. Hermione looked down and headed straight for her destination. She did not look around nor savour the walk. With luck that she had never had before, she managed to make it to the classroom with out running into a single soul, living or dead.
She brought her hard to the doorknob and hesitated just before turning. The Dumbledore of this time did not know her like he did in her time. If she was sitting in his classroom it would cause him unnecessary panic, these were not peaceful times she came to. She sighed and pushed the door open anyways, it's not like she could wait outside the classroom. Whatever had caused her luck surely would not last that long.
As it turns out, she did not have to wait long. As she looked up the row of desks towards the front of the classroom and upon the teacher's desk, she saw Dumbledore sitting, casually marking papers.