I do not own any of these characters.
A/N: Oh wow, you guys are wonderful. I'm glad you all are understanding with the updating, and I'm sorry if I'm being batty about anything. I've just been having a really rough month. But moving on, I'd like to say thank you to all of my reviewers. They actually put me in a better mood before I start typing the new chapters! I'm also putting out my first chapter for my newest story, Phoenix in Hiding. If anyone reads it and likes it, please review or tell me in some way so I know if I should continue it. I have another chapter for it already typed out, so I'll wait and put that out until tomorrow or the day after. Anyways, I suppose I'll get onto the story! - Min
Reanne1102: Hermione isn't going to tell them everything just yet. The Marauders will eventually find out and since James' parents know about James' future, it will be hard for him to erm… not know?
Bookworm: Thank you! I am going to finish this story, those are my intentions. I don't think I could abandon my writing, even if I do get writers block of anything. I do have a few stories in my mind that I would like to write out as fan fiction, and I actually put out the first chapter of my newest one. Just read the A/N above and you'll know where to find it. The story goes a bit fast in the beginning, because I wanted to go ahead and get some things out of the way, so yeah. It's not the best chapter one in history. ; )
the-kaiba-heir: Thank you. I agree with the long explanation speeches. I'm just not gifted into making those sound that great. I do try though, and I'm hoping to make them better. I just don't think I'm that great at uhm, long descriptions.
Wally4ever: Thanks. I hope everything goes smoothly with the braces thing and all. I never liked braces… but that's just me. Anyways, here's the much wanted update, I think. Enjoy!
Caitlyn: Thank you! I really can't stand MWPP stories where someone goes back in time and have a peculiar hate towards Peter and/or Severus. I can see why sometimes, but it just gets annoying how some people go all out and just make fun of them. I agree with how the time aspect is confusing, I find myself at a loss sometimes whenever I try to type something out that deals with the date or… something. I try to update at least once or twice a week, maybe more. I can't really stand some stories that only get updated once a month. It just kills me, unless the person has more than two or three more stories that they are updating. I wont forget about this story!
Thank you: amrawo, Mandalen, Que Bonita, LoveroftheTwins326, Parvatti, BeckiSoup, Torri-Chiobie, and SpikesDreamer!
Previous: Suddenly, there was a knock on the door and everyone hushed. Dumbledore smiled. "I believe that would be Miss Granger."
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
"Come in." Dumbledore said pleasantly.
The Order members hushed and looked expectantly at the door. It opened slowly and a girl shuffled into the room. She hadn't looked up yet, so she was unaware of all the people around the office.
"Good Morning, Miss Granger."
"Morning Sir." She replied, then looked up. Her eyes became large and she stood rigid in front of the door.
"Not to worry, everyone here is part of the Order."
"Sir, you said you would tell me when--"
The Headmaster cut her off. "I'm aware that I told you when the meeting would be, but you came here on your own invitation." His eyes sparkled with mirth as he watched a blush form along her cheeks.
"Sorry." Hermione mumbled. "I just got out of the hospital wing and I'm a bit… erm…"
"Ah, yes, I know what Poppy can do to one." He mused, then looked around the room. "Miss Granger, I'd like to introduce you to some people. Some faces might seem familiar, others might not. This here is Alaster Moody. He's one of the best Auror's that I know."
Mad-eye Moody walked over to her and extended his hand out to her. Hermione looked at him and obviously noted the differences. He didn't have a wooden leg yet, but he still had his magical eye swiveling in its socket. His nose was fully in tact and there weren't so many scars on his face.
Hermione shook his hand and smiled up at him. "Nice to see you again."
Moody looked slightly taken aback but he just grunted before moving back to his original spot. Dumbledore continued, "These two over here are Harold and Emily Potter."
"Hello." Hermione had replied, shaking each of their hands in turn. Mrs. Potter had been a bit reluctant, but had shook hands anyway.
"Of course, you know Professor Minerva McGonagall." The Headmaster implied and the Deputy Headmistress nodded in assent. "And this other couple you see over to your right would be Arthur and Molly Weasley."
They all watched as the girl in front of them whipped around and stared at the Weasley couple. Shock and surprise were evident on her face but her eyes showed something that they hadn't expected; sadness and something that resembled pain.
Molly realized this though and moved forward hesitantly. "You alright dear?"
The girl, Hermione, nodded but couldn't seem to be able to say anything. She just stared wide eyed at the couple and she began to tremble under their stare.
Dumbledore became alarmed by this and stood up. He walked around his desk towards Hermione and looked into her eyes. Everyone was confused for a moment before they realized he was using legilimency on her.
After what seemed like a forever of everyone casting nervous glances at the Weasley's, Hermione, then at Dumbledore, the Headmaster pulled back away from Hermione and smiled at the confused couple.
"Nothing to be worried about, she's just having a bit of a shock at the moment. From viewing her mind, I realize that one of your sons will become a great friend of hers. She misses him greatly, so she's a bit… confused." Dumbledore shook his head and smiled at Hermione who looked up at him nervously.
"Sorry Professor, I was just… yeah, confused." She said lamely, looking down at the floor.
"That's quite all right." Dumbledore said cheerfully then sat back down behind his desk. "So what brought you here, Miss Granger?"
"Oh. I wanted to speak with you about some things that I noticed wrong with me." She said quietly, her voice almost indistinct in everyone.
"Wrong?"
"Yes. Well, I know it sounds stupid, but sir, I don't have a shadow." The brown haired girl replied quickly.
"No shadow? Hm." Dumbledore looked at Hermione thoughtfully before continuing. "That could prove to be a bit of a standoff against trying to fit in here. Do you have any theories of why this happened?"
The girl in front of him nodded and decided to take a seat. "My theory is that as I came here through time, my shadow became stuck in the future. As everyone knows, a shadow is partial darkness or obscurity within a part of space from which rays from a source of light are cut off by an interposed opaque body. The problem is, I moved through time but not space. I was in the exact same place as I had been before I arrived here from my time, so I hadn't exactly moved at all. That's the glitch. A shadow is within space. I technically do not exist here, except, well, I am here and since I don't precisely exist, I have no shadow."
Everyone but the Headmaster stared at the girl as if she were crazy. Dumbledore merely chuckled and sat back in his seat. "Miss Granger, I do believe you've got that correct. Since you do not precisely exist with us here in this time, you will not take on the full structure as we do."
"I know, sir. That's a problem though, because if I'm here to change the future, then what will happen to me when I'm finish? Surely I can't return to a world that I have no idea of. I might not even be born in my time now since I've already altered some of the past. If I'm not complete here, and I'm not complete there, then what am I going to do in the end? Something without a shadow theoretically does not exist in the world, therefore, I cannot be present." Hermione said quickly, tears visible in her eyes now.
Dumbledore was stumped, for once, about what the girl had said. She was right though, and astonishingly accurate with the theory. For the first time, the Headmaster was at a loss of what to say.
Hermione watched as Dumbledore became quiet, not saying anything. She knew he was thinking everything she had said over in his mind, but there was something else in the older mans posture that unnerved her. What was it? Uncertainty? Confusion?
The girl shook her head. It wasn't time to try and figure someone's emotions out. She was having enough trouble keeping her own in check. The biggest emotional shock though, was seeing Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.
"I'm going to have to look into that," Dumbledore said calmly, "because for once, I'm at a loss at what to tell you. I'll get back to you on that, Hermione. Until then, is there anything else you'd like to share with me?"
Hermione gulped. She had intended to tell him everything that she'd told the Marauders but she wasn't sure if she wanted to now. "Professor, I'm guessing you heard about the incident with the boggart yesterday--"
Dumbledore put a hand up to silence her. "I am aware of it all. Professor Ian came to me yesterday evening and told me of the incident. There was one thing that I'm curious about though. He told me that the boggart turned into two different things. What might they have been?"
With a sigh, Hermione told him, "The first form was of my friend Harry. Harry has gone up against Voldemort--" She rolled her eyes as everyone except for Dumbledore gasped at the name and shivered, "too many times and he's been introduced to too many things. He's gone into depression and with him having practically no family, he feels alone. He blames himself for a lot of things though, but in his state, I'm afraid he'll turn out as Tom Riddle had."
"Tom Riddle? So you know about Voldemort's past?" The Headmaster inquired quietly.
"Yes, I do. You told Harry and Harry told me. Tom was in an orphanage for a good part of his life, and eventually, his depression and anger turned him into a dark wizard. I'm afraid, Harry has been showing signs of what I believe Tom had with his depression and anger at the world. That would explain the second form that the boggart took. It was of the future Voldemort."
"Miss Granger, I'm pleased to hear that you are not afraid of Voldemort so much that you'd have trouble defeating him one on one." Dumbledore told her. "When I heard the news, I was afraid that you were scared of Voldemort himself, and that wouldn't do if you had to defeat him. Now, I realize you were just scared for your friend."
"Yes, sir. That's exactly what happened…" Hermione mumbled, looking at her hands. "I know it's childish, but I can't help but worry about him. He was one of my first friends, along with Ron, and I--"
"That's quite fine." The Headmaster said before standing up and addressing the whole room. "Breakfast has started in the Great Hall. Hermione, I believe you should go eat before your morning classes. If something else comes up, you may come see me. I'll arrange a meeting for the Order to introduce you to them but in the meantime, get through you classes and try to spend a few days out of the hospital wing."
Hermione blushed and stood up. "Professor, I just want you to know, the Marauder's know about me and my erm, status. They know that I'm not from here."
Dumbledore stared at her intently for a few seconds. "Very well. I hope you didn't tell them too much, especially what includes their futures."
"I didn't tell them much about their futures." Hermione admitted. "Well, goodbye Professor Dumbledore, McGonagall. Bye Mr. Potter, Mrs. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasly, Profess-I mean, uh, Moody."
Hermione's face flushed and hurried out of the office. As soon as she shut the door behind her, she heard the room burst with voices. Shaking her head, the girl made her way down the steps.
Her mind went over everything that had just happened in the Headmasters office. It wasn't really much of anything new, but something was eating at her now. Dumbledore hadn't said anything to her when she asked what she would be doing after she finished her purpose in this time.
"I suppose I'll just have to find out." Hermione sighed before heading off to breakfast.
The next few days passed by normally, if you want to exclude the fact that on Wednesday, the forks that was set out on the tables during dinner would sprout legs and arms when touched and would go frolicking down the tables singing the Hokey Pokey and would do a small dance number.
On Thursday morning, the Great Hall was enchanted to look like everything was liquefying and whenever someone sat down on the benches of the house tables, it would scream, "I'm mellllting, mellllting!"
Hermione had gone through all of her classes without any more weird happenings, though she still earned odd looks from fellow students. No one seemed to want to ask her about the boggart incident but they were curious all the same. Even the Marauders had decided to leave the subject alone.
Professor McGonagall seemed pleased with her, seeing how Hermione was dedicated to her work. Professor Ian instantly became one of her favorite teachers and he seemed keen to make sure nothing odd happened in his class with her again; for her safety. The potions professor, Professor Baker, wasn't so bad. He was more curious about Hermione than anything. He still favored the Slytherin's more than the other houses, but he wasn't been anything like Snape.
So, the school days went by quickly enough for Hermione and the others. She had become real good friends with Lily, who was more excited than anyone Hermione had ever seen. James had sent her a letter back on Wednesday, replying to her 'love letter.' Of course, Remus had made sure that James sent it when Lily wasn't anywhere near them. The redhead was practically bouncing off of the walls when she read the reply. Hermione had just smiled and told her to reply back to his letter; which she did.
So now, the weekdays passed off until Hogsmeade weekend came. Hermione was just waking up in the dormitory on Saturday morning. It was just beginning to get light outside.
The dull glow of the rising sun behind clouds filtered through the window in the girls dormitory and Hermione yawned as she stretched out on her four-poster bed. It was silent in the room, except for the light breathing coming from the other three beds. The room was cold and the brown haired girl debated with herself if she should get up out of her warm bed.
She was glad that she hadn't had anymore nightmares. Getting through the day without having to relive her memories in any way was a relief that was welcomed by her. Every once in a while, Hermione would space off and think about what the others were doing back in the future.
With a sigh, Hermione sat up and pulled her covers off of her body. She knew that if she didn't get ready for the day before the other girls woke up, she wouldn't be able to use the bathroom at all. It was, after all, Hogsmeade day.
As quietly as possible, Hermione shuffled around the room, getting her clothing and accessories ready for the day. She took a quick shower and dressed in a warm, black sweater, accompanied with dark, navy blue jeans. She put on her pair of trainers and then brushed her hair.
With a quick charm, she dried her hair and decided to do something else with it. She used another charm that would straighten her hair so that it hung sleekly down her back and curled slightly at the bottom. After being satisfied with her look, she wrapped a plain, black cloak around her tightly. The room was chilly.
Hermione dug in her trunk one last time before pulling out a pouch that had some wizard money in it. She would go ahead and buy Christmas gifts for her friends; even though it was a bit early. She just didn't want to have to wait until the last minute.
She stashed the money in a pocket of her cloak and stepped quietly out of the dormitory before making her way to the common room. It was quiet and practically empty, except for one person who had fallen asleep on one of the couches.
When the girl walked forward to investigate, she saw that it was Sirius. Hermione stifled a laugh, seeing a opened book on the floor next to his hand that was hanging off the side of the couch. Since when did Sirius read?
Hermione crept towards him, then by reaction, she tugged gently on a lock of his long, messy hair to wake him up. She'd always done that to Harry and Ron when they'd fallen asleep somewhere other than their room.
Sirius mumbled something that sounded like, "I don't wanna' leave the cheese" and then he turned his head to the side.
Hermione giggled quietly, then tugged on his hair again, this time a bit more noticeably. His eyes opened slightly and he mumbled something again, before seeing Hermione standing over him, grinning.
"Wha-- Hermione?" He blinked, sitting up quickly.
"Morning, Sunshine." Hermione stuck her tongue out at him. "What were you doing down here so late?"
"Oh, I was reading." He told her matter-of-factly and then yawned.
"Reading? Since when did the great Sirius read?" She questioned him with a raised eyebrow.
"I was reading on animagi forms." He said quietly. "Just for some reference, you know?"
"Oh, I see." Hermione took a seat on the couch next to him when he moved his legs.
"What are you doing up so early?" He yawned again and rubbed at his eyes.
"I'm always up early." She replied, picking up the book he had been reading.
"You're mad." He said in a mock-horrified voice.
"Let me be mad then." She smiled. "At least I'm not the only one up early today."
"Huh?"
"You!" Hermione poked him in the chest. "You're up now."
"Oh, well, that's because you woke me up. You're evil!" The dark haired boy waved his arms in the air as if it was important to do so.
"Fine, go back to bed then, Mr. Padfoot. Just don't blame me if you wake up too late to go to Hogsmeade." Hermione huffed and crossed her arms across her chest.
Sirius perked up immediately. "Hogsmeade!"
Hermione laughed at the look on his face. "That woke you up."
"'Course it did! It's Hogsmeade day! Hoggy Hoggy Hogsmeade!"
"Oh god." Hermione laughed, covering her face with her hands. "I've awaken the monster."
"Monster!" Sirius cried, "You're calling me a monster? I'm hurt!"
"Aw, I'm sowwie Ickle Sirikins." Hermione cooed. "Will you forgive me?"
"Sirikins?" The boy squeaked. "Sirikins!"
The girl burst out into laughter now, seeing the horrified look on the boys face. He was clearly not used to be called by names other than Sirius or Padfoot.
Hermione was still laughing and didn't notice his eyes narrowing and she missed the small, playful growl that escaped his lips. Before Hermione had time to register what was happening, Sirius had tackled her on the couch.
"Sirius, get off of me!" Hermione commanded through her laughter.
"Not until you apologize for calling me that!" Sirius told her as he began to tickle her sides.
"S-Sirius, stop!" She squealed, trying to push him off.
"Not until you apologize."
"I'll never apologize!"
"Fine, then I'll never stop tickling you!"
"No!" Hermione cried out.
He continued to tickle her and Hermione and she did the only things she could think of to get away from him. She took the book he'd been reading the night before and whacked him upside the head with it, though not too hard.
"Ow!" He pouted. "What was that for?"
"For not stopping!" Hermione laughed and pushed him away from her only to get the result of him falling backwards on the floor as he slid off the couch.
"Oomph! That's it, I'm going to get you for that!" He cried as Hermione squealed and jumped off the couch. "You have no one to save you from me!"
The girl just laughed and ran towards the boys dormitories out of habit, the boys threats being nothing in her ears. She heard Sirius running after her and she hurried, taking the steps two at a time. Before she realized it, she had flung open the Marauders dormitory door after reading their names on the plaque and hurried inside with Sirius at her heels.
"Come here!" He growled playfully and grabbed her around the waist.
She struggled to get away and nearly did but he lunged out and gripped her tighter around the waist and flung her around in a half circle. Hermione squealed loudly at the action and prolonged her efforts of getting away.
Muffled moans and mumbling were heard in the room and James pulled his curtains aside to poke his head out. "What's all the racket in here? Who screamed like a girl?"
Hermione took this time to wrench free of Sirius' grasp and ran towards James' bed and hid behind one of the bed posts. She stuck her tongue out at the boy who narrowed his eyes at her.
"Hermione?" James asked groggily then paused. "Hermione! What are you doing in here! Girls aren't supposed to be--"
"Oh, come off of it, James. I used to come up to the boys dorms every morning in my time. Anyways, he--" Hermione pointed at Sirius, as James struggled to find a shirt, "chased me up here!"
"I'm only chasing you because you wouldn't apologize!" Sirius said loudly.
Another muffled moan came from the bed next to James' and the curtain pulled back to reveal a very tousle haired Remus. He flung his feet onto the floor and sat at the end of his bed, shirtless and very tired looking. He ran a hand through his hair, messing it up more before he said, "Do you realize how loud you all are? What are you guys doing?"
Sirius looked at his friends. "I'm trying to get this young lady here to stop running away from me and apologize!"
"Huh?" Remus rubbed his eyes in a childish way before looking up through his bangs to see a very determined looking Hermione hiding behind one of James' bed posts. "Hermione!"
"That's me." She replied and flashed him a grin.
Remus blushed deeply, and like James, began searching for his discarded shirt from the night before. Hermione laughed quietly and reassured them that she wasn't seeing anything new, but Remus just blushed a deeper red.
James had already pulled a shirt over his head and was now looking warily at Hermione. "Girls are not supposed to be in a boys dorm!"
"What are you going to do about it?" Hermione asked him with her eyebrows raised.
"I…" James looked thoughtfully before he looked at Sirius. "What do you think Padfoot?"
"I don't know Prongs. Maybe I should…"
"But you wouldn't! Would you?" James said in a mock-terrified voice.
"Oh, but I would!" Sirius replied, grinning at a confused looking Hermione.
"Do what?" She demanded.
Sirius grinned wickedly at her and pulled out his wand. He brandished it and a bucket of water appeared at his feet. He picked it up and took a step towards the girl.
"Don't you dare." She hissed with narrowed eyes.
Sirius just let out a hoot of laughter and lunged at her, bucket in his hands. Hermione scrambled onto James' bed with another shriek before rolling off the other side and ran to a confused Remus. He looked up at her with shocked eyes before she yelped and jumped onto his bed, hiding behind the boy.
"Save me from ickle Sirikins!" Hermione cried out, clutching onto the disheveled and shirtless Remus.
Remus was about to say something then choked on the air he'd breathed in. He sputtered for a bit then managed to say, "Ickle Sirikins?"
James let out a burst of laughter from the next bed and fell over on his pillows while Sirius glared at Hermione, who waved back at him innocently.
"Ah, shove it, Prongs." Sirius barked and tossed the water at his friend who was rolling around on his blankets.
James sat up, sputtering as the water dripped from his face and hair that was now matted to his head. "What was that for!"
"For laughing." The other dark haired boy crowed, waving his arms around exasperatedly. Hermione noted that he did that a lot.
Hermione giggled and Sirius rounded on her. She put on an innocent face and looked up at the boy who was striding over to her and Remus, looking very… amused?
"Are you going to apologize?" He quirked an eyebrow.
"Never." Hermione whispered, then squealed and ducked her head behind Remus as the other boy made a grab for her. "Save me!"
Remus' face reddened as she clutched onto him tighter, her squeals loud in his hears. He mumbled something to Sirius who grinned roguishly.
"Oh ho, what is this? Someone else has stolen my fair maidens heart!" Sirius cried and brandished a fake dagger out at Remus who looked up at him as if he had lost his mind.
"Padfoot, you prat." Remus rolled his eyes but his face was still bright red. "When will you ever learn to leave a lady alone?"
"What?" Sirius placed a hand over his chest on the right side. "Are you telling me she doesn't love me?"
"Yes, Sirius, I don't see who would." Remus smiled sweetly at his friend, then added, "Your heart is on the left side, by the way."
Sirius looked down and merely shrugged before placing his hand over his heart. "Everyone has their mutations."
Hermione gave a small snort of laughter at that and poked her head out from Remus' right shoulder. "Has anyone ever told this guy that he's the worst charmer?"
"No, I don't think anyone ever has." Remus replied, rubbing his chin in a sinister way. "I think that it's about time someone does though."
"Oh, so now you're against me?" The other boy waggled a finger at him. "Well so much for having friends! I disown you now! You can go to the library and make friends with those… those… creepy little book people that lurk in there. I bet they have you brainwashed against me, don't they?"
"Yes Padfoot, those little book personas have got it out for you. They've got half of the schools population against you." Remus replied and shook his russet bangs out of his face.
"I knew it!"
"Yes you did."
Hermione decided it was time for her to make a departure. She slid off of Remus' bed and then made her way over to the door before Sirius could stop her.
"I guess I'll be seeing you guys later this evening then?"
"Wait, did you want to go to Hogsmeade with us?" Sirius asked.
"No, I'm already supposed to meet up with someone." Hermione smiled. "Thanks anyways."
Hermione saw that Sirius was about to either protest or ask her who she was going with, so Hermione rushed out of the room and closed the door behind her. She quickly descended the stairs gracefully then left the common room, ready for the upcoming evening with Severus.
A/N: This one is a bit shorter than usual, but I decided to stop there. I actually got this chapter out quickly, no? Well, I'll be starting on the next chapter either this afternoon or tomorrow sometime, so just wait and it should be uploaded soon! - Min