Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor its characters. They belong to the amazing J.K. Rowling.


July 3rd

As always, the professor Dumbledore was punctual. Like Hawkins told her, the Headmaster of Hogwarts was sitting in a chair by her bedside an hour sharp later. She had let a sigh of relief out when he entered her room, he was the first familiar face she has seen since she woke up the day before.

But as she saw the Professor smiling at her, she couldn't help but think that, once more, something was off. His beard was shorter than usual and he looked less stressed, which made him look a little younger. His hair and beard were as white as ever and his round spectacles were in place on his nose.

"How are you, miss Granger?"

His voice showed his kindness and concern for her. It made her smile, happy to see some familiarity.

"I'm a little better now, thank you. A little sore, though."

"I can only imagine. I heard that you have been hit with a dark curse. It's a wonder that you are still alive. The curse should have killed you. You are a lucky witch, miss Granger."

"I guess," she breathed, "where are the others, Professor," she finally asked.

The Headmaster tilted his head, looking at her right in the eyes. Hermione noticed that there were no twinkle in his eyes, and she feared the worst for her friends.

"I am afraid I can not answer this question, miss Granger. But, if you can, I would like to ask you a question. Would it be alright?"

"Of course."

He nodded. "How did you end up in the Department of Mysteries, half dead, miss Granger?"

The question startled her. She was certain that the some members of the Order came to save them in the Department of Mysteries. If they were there – and she was certain they were – it only means that the Professor Dumbledore knew what was happening there. The Order would have never act without the leader knowing.

But then, why was he asking her this particular question?

Hermione raised her head, looking at Dumbledore discretely, her hair hiding her eyes. The details that she noticed before were even more noticeable now that she doubted the identity of the person in front of her. For all she knew, this person could be a Death Eater trying to fool her by taking the appearance of one of the person she trusted the most in the world.

The real Albus Dumbledore would have tell her immediately if her friends were alright or not.

With a new determination to expose the impostor, she decided to look at him in the eyes, knowing she has been silent for too long.

She knew it was a mistake only after all her memories from the first year until this very moment played in her mind. She relived her sorting in Gryffindor, the troll, the chess game and the riddle, the basilisk, Sirius' escape and Remus' lycanthropy, the Triwizard tournament and the Yule ball, Umbridge and the ministry and her awakening in the hospital room, all alone and worried.

He had used Legilimency on her, and that thought destroyed all her earlier theory. Legilimency wasn't an easy spell, and only a few wizards and witches perfected it. Dumbledore and Snape were one of the few she knew.

She saw the expression of the not-an-impostor-after-all's face changed. He was confused and kind of sad, if she were to put a name on the other expression on his face. The twinkle in his eye were still not her, and he seems to have trouble choosing his next words.

Once again, it worried her. The Professor she knew always knew what to say.

"It seems that your situation is a lot more delicate than it first appeared."

He fell silent for a little moment.

"I apologize for using Legilimency on you, miss Granger, but I had the feeling that you were doubting me and that you would have never told me what happened to you."

Hermione said nothing.

"The ministry panicked when the words spread that a young woman who seemed to be only a student were found seriously hurt in the Department of Mysteries. It has been really difficult for them to silence the journalists. Fortunately, your case didn't make it in the newspaper."

Hermione only listened to the old man, not knowing where he was leading. He was beating about the bush and they both knew it.

"After looking in your mind, I am terribly sorry to tell you that the dark curse you have been hit with, did kill you."

The girl's eyes widened, and she looked at the man as if he has gone mad.

"But I am perfectly fine and alive."

"Indeed."

"Then, why did you say that-"

"Have you ever heard of Secundo Fors?"

Hermione fell silent. Finally she understood what the Headmaster just told her. While looking for light reading in her third year, she came upon a book entitled Secundo Fors. It made her curious so she borrowed it from the librarian and passed hours reading it. What it counted was only a legend but it has fascinated her. The book related the legend of this legendary event, which would give a second chance to a dead person who never have had the time to really live by sending them in another time or another dimension. When it mentioned dimensions, Hermione couldn't help but borrowing "Muggle sciences: Are there other similar worlds?". She had scoffed at the idea of several worlds similar to her own, but now, the idea wasn't as stupid as she thought it was before.

Gathering her courage, she finally asked the question that would answer all the questions she had before the arrival of the Professor.

"I am not in 1996, right?"

"I am afraid not."

She tried not to panic. Maybe she wasn't too far in the past. She was definitely in the past since Dumbledore was younger, but maybe it was just a few years back. Maybe Harry was still here – though younger than her now – but especially her parents. She knew that she could never see them again now, but if they were alive and that the young Hermione was with them, then it would be alright.

She wanted to ask. She really wanted to ask, but she was too afraid.

As if sensing what she was thinking, the old wizard answered her silent question.

"It is actually the year 1976."

And that's how her worst nightmare became reality. If she was in 1976, three years before her birth, then Hermione Granger – the other one – would never be born. If she had been only a few years in the past, the younger Hermione would have probably died from God knows what because it should be impossible for a person to have a second self.

She was all alone, without her family, without her friends.

It really was her worst nightmare.

Seeing her distress, Dumbledore tried to smile, even though it looked more like a grimace.

"I know it must be hard for you to be in a foreign environment. But it's going to be alright. I will make arrangements for your living. It will take time but everything will eventually be alright."

Unlike him, Hermione had trouble to believe that.

The old wizard stood up, the twinkle in his eyes finally appearing.

"The doctor Hawkins told me that she will keep you under medical supervision for a week before your release. Until then, your living arrangements should be ready."

She only nodded, not sure what to say exactly.

"Oh, and since we still don't know if you're from another world or only from the future, tell me if you notice anything different from what you know of the past. I wish you a quick recovery, miss Granger."

He smiled and Hermione thanked him before he left the room, leaving her alone with her thoughts. She wasn't optimistic like the Professor was and she highly doubted that everything would be alright. Without Harry, nothing would ever be right again.


July 4th

James Potter was going upstairs to his room, his arms full of snack and chocolates for him and his two friends when he saw the Professor Dumbledore and his parents greeting each other in the lounge. Hurrying upstairs, he entered his room, dropped the snacks on his bed and took his invisibility cloak out. His two friends, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin looked at him oddly, not knowing what's got into him.

"Dumbledore is here! Come on, I want to know what's happening."

They didn't need to be told twice. They all went under the cloak and exited the room and leaded to the lounge. The fact that Dumbledore was there was not normal, as James implied earlier. That only meant that something awful happened or that it had something to do with the Order they heard about. Not that they were supposed to know about it.

They listened as Dumbledore talked to Dorea and Charlus Potter. Unfortunately, they didn't catch the beginning of the conversation.

"Surely, you both know of Secundo Fors?"

"Of course," exclaimed Mrs Potter. "Are you saying that that poor girl died?"

"I am afraid that it's exactly what I am saying."

"But it's only just a child! That could have been James," cried Charlus.

"But it didn't happened now, though. For the moment, no children have been targeted."

"From when is she, Albus," asked softly Dorea.

"From the year 1996."

The three boys looked at each other. Sirius and James didn't really understand what they were talking about, only that someone died and it has something to do with the future. One look at Remus, though, told them that he knew exactly what they were talking about. They would ask him later, when they would be alone in James' room.

"If I am here, it's because in this time, this girl has no one and nowhere to go. And I am asking this as a favour – you can of course refuse – can you-"

"Of course we will take her in, Albus! You don't have to ask."

Charlus nodded and a smile appeared on the Headmaster's face.

They kept talking a little, learning some meaningless information about the girl. Her name was Hermione Granger and was Harry Potter's best friend. The latter's name intrigued them, but they would think about it later. After a while, they just talked about living arrangements.

Knowing that they wouldn't get any more information, the boys went back to the young Potter's room.

"Alright," began Sirius, "explain, Remus!"

Remus sighed, passing a hand in his sand blond hair.

"It's a really shitty situation that girl is in. I wouldn't like to be in her place. I assume you don't know what Secundo Fors is?"

The shook their heads as an answer.

Remus then explained what than event was, that it was supposed to be a legend – but then, all legend were based on some real facts.

"So you're saying that this girl died in the future and came back in 1976 for a second chance at life?"

Remus nodded at Sirius.

"Well, you were right, that's a shitty situation."

Sirius looked at James, who seemed to be deep in his thoughts. He snapped his fingers at his face, takinh him away from his thoughts.

"I-" he began, "she died! She's probably been murdered even! That's awful."

They only nodded, not knowing what to say after discovering all that.

"You'll meet her in one week," said Remus. "Be nice to her, alright? And don't tell you know where she's from, she'll tell you when she's ready."

"Of course," exclaimed Sirius, "what do you think we are? Some baboons without manners?"

"Exactly."

A pillow hitting his face was what answered him and they all started to fight, forgetting for a moment the girl that were in their thoughts just a moment ago. They were only teenagers trying to forget the war that were raging outside.

Though, they all knew that this Hermione girl would change their life. For the better or the worse, they didn't know.


Hi!

So here is the second chapter. I don't really know what you thought of the first chapter, but I'm publishing the second chapter anyway.

Hope you liked it! And please, leave a review. You don't know how important it is for an author. Without you, I can't improve.

Tell me in a review what you thought of the explanation. What you thought of Hermione's reaction. Just, tell me your thoughts in general.

I have a quick question for you guys. Where do you find all your challenges and prompts? I can't find them anywhere.

See you next time!

Love,

Elie