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CHAPTER 2: A DIFFERENT KIND OF PAIN
Everything hurt, from her finger tips to her knee caps. The events of the previous night came flooding back to her: Lucius and Theodore raping her, Bellatrix cursing her and breaking her bones – willing her to scream. And she thought that for sure she was dead. The dead feel this much pain? It was excruciating. Maybe she had gone to hell for casting that killing curse? She heard voice surround her and felt warmth radiating from her left, warmth that only an alive body could provide. Was she dead? The last thing she could remember was a bolt of light hitting her on the head. If the bold hadn't have been blue, she would have been sure it was an Avada Kedavra. She could here whispering voices, none of which were familiar.
"Hey Sirius," a voice said. It was a male and it sounded somewhat familiar. Sirius? Yep. Great, I'm dead. "Any progress on Sleeping Beauty?" What? Who?
"Unfortunately not. She's been sleeping for a week! Why isn't she awake?"
"Padfoot, maybe you should go to the dorms? You haven't left since she arrived and maybe you know –"
"No way Prongs," Prongs as inJAMES POTTER? Fuck.I really am dead. "I am staying." James just let out an exasperated sigh and slumped into a vacant seat.
Hermione desperately tried to open her eyes. She rustled up all of strength and managed to let a groan of pain escape her lips. James ran out of the room, he was going to find Poppy. The pair studied the brunette with wide eyes, too shocked to speak. She gained strength from places she didn't know existed. She lifted her heavy lids and was fronted by bright lights. She shut them quickly before trying again. This time she left them open long enough to adjust to the light. She was faced with the gawking stares of two familiar teenagers.
Her throat ached, so she summoned some her Gryffindor courage.
"Water," she croaked. None of the wizards or the witch moved for a moment. But after what seemed like hours the redhead sprang into action. She conjured a glass of water and then ran out of the room, yelling for Mme Pomfrey. Hermione reached for the glass pitifully and failed. She reached again but a large hand beat her to it. Before she could see who the hand belonged to, she was sipping the water after the glass had been gently shoved in her face. Poppy bustled into the room, her arms full of different coloured potions. She set them on the bed and then began to chatter away.
"How are you feeling, dear? You have been asleep for a whole week! Are you still sore? Oh, what a silly question, you must be in agony," Hermione managed a nod.
"Am I dead?" Hermione asked the witch.
Poppy just laughed and poured potion after potion down her throat and slowly, the pain subsided. She opened her mouth to speak but Poppy beat her to the punch.
She looked to her right, wanting to have her wand in hand. But all she saw was a blood stained letter.
"That was with your clothes, dear,"
Hermione winced and tried to ignore the shooting pain as she opened the blood stained letter.
Hermione Granger,
I am so sorry about what I have done. I saw you being tortured by the Bellatrix, Theodore and Lucius and I couldn't leave you to die. I cast a spell of my own making on you, sending you back in time. You should have landed in front of a young version of James Potter and Sirius Black. They will protect you. Do not, however, tell them about who you are. Explain all of this to Albus, but refrain from telling them anything about the future yet. I have not invented a reversing spell but I will after the war is finished. You can tell them about your parents, experiences at school and that Death Eaters did this to you. Oh, Hermione, I am so sorry. Please, protect yourself and stay safe.
Severus Snape.
Fear and despair raged through her veins, her mind floundering. She had never felt so confused. When she looked up was confronted but several new, but familiar faces.
Her eyes settled on a tall ginger haired boy. His hair hung gracefully but messily around his aristocratic features. It appeared that this teenage boy was Remus Lupin. Hermione could tell because of his eyes. Knowing and wise, just as they had been when he was her Defence against the Dark Arts teacher. He didn't have nearly as many scars as he did in Hermione's time.
Her eyes drifted to a grotesque looking pudgy boy. He had greasy blonde hair and rat like features. She immedinetally recognised him as Peter Pettigrew. He had the same rodent features as a teenager as he did as an adult and a traitor. It took all she had not to strangle him to death with her bare hands.
She moved her eyes one to the left and saw an elegant redhead perched on the edge of a loveseat. Hermione looked directly into her eyes and she felt her heart swell with happiness. They were exactly like Harry's. She was beautiful. Lily Evans.
When she looked at the next face, she felt her heart clench. He looked so much like Harry, it was painful. He has the same untamed hair and glasses as Harry and slowly, she recognised his uncanny to Harry could be for only one reason. This was James Potter. The pain in her heart made her avert her eyes to the next figure.
She was confronted with a slightly taller boy who had raven hair hanging over his rustic features. He was unbelievably handsome. A light sprinkle of facial hair dusted his strong jawline, which Sirius Black was known for. His grey eyes swam with concern. 12 years in Azkaban really toughened him up.
Pain ripped through her, but this pain wasn't like the Cruciatus curse. It was a different kind of pain. Her heart ached and her stomach knotted. What would Harry have given to see his parents so young? His Godfather so young and carefree? Hermione's mind raced. Here, before her very eyes were the notorious Marauders but where were Harry and Ron? Her two best friends in the world were gone. Would she ever see them again?
"I'm sure you would like to know where you are, what happened, and what is going to happen." exclaimed Poppy. And all Hermione could do was nod.
"You are in the hospital wing of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. You were found by James and Sirius here. I assed your injuries and it turns out you had broken every bone in your body. You had snapped the bones in your arms and legs and shattered the bones in you hand and collar bone. You were raped several times," a tear leaked down Poppy's cheek and Lily had them welling in her eyes, "and, I am truly sorry, but someone carved the word mudblood into your arm. It is laced with Dark Magic and everything I tried to cover it with was repelled. I consulted Dumbledore and he confirmed my suspicions. The mark with form a permanent scar, it's unmovable. I am truly sorry, I tried everything."
"Its fine, I know you did everything you could. Can I see it please?"
Hermione held out her arm, wincing at the pain. Because it repelled spells, it also prevented pain relief from potions as well. Poppy slowly removed the bandage, seemingly afraid of what she would see. She pealed back the dressing to reveal the bloody letters. Everybody in the room inhaled quickly and sharply. The word started in the inner crevice of her elbow and finished just before her hand. The letters were bloody, pink and were quite big. It was disgusting. She felt the prickle of unshed tears; this was the first time that being called a mudblood hurt her. Not just physically, but emotionally. A big fat tear fell out her eye. This was the first time she had cried through the whole ordeal.
Sirius saw Hermione's tears and absentmindedly reached out and wiped it away with the pad of his thumb. Hermione's heart swelled at the gesture. Azkaban can really change a man. She smiled warmly up at him, her eyes full of appreciation.
"I really need to speak to the Head Master," she told Mme Pomfrey.
"Of course, Remus, could you go and get Professor Dumbledore?"
"Sure,"
Within moments Professor Dumbledore appeared. She was temporarily taken aback by how young he looked. His eyes were twinkling behind his half-moon glasses. His beard was dramatically short compared to what it once was but would be considered long anyway. He motioned for the others to leave. Sirius shot her a look with a smile that said he would be right outside. He cast a few silencing charms and then sat on the foot of the bed.
"What seems to be the problem, Miss…?"
"Granger, sir, Hermione Granger," she continued to explain what had happened in her past, being very careful not say anything too out of line. "I understand that you are a very skilled legitumis. You coul–"
He held up a silencing hand. "I do not need to invade you mind to see that you are telling the truth. Your friend will contact you one way or another; he sounds like a very talented wizard."
"He is, indeed."
"You will have to be sorted again. Tonight if Poppy allows? We will say that you are a transfer student but, you will have to tell those five something. If it's not too painful, I suggest you tell them that you were tortured by Death Eaters and then you magically arrived here. So the same story you told me, without the time travel. Oh and, if you happen to need anything, I am particularly fond of cockroach clusters, do with that what you must." He finished with a wink. Albus disabled the wards with a flick of his wrist. He shot Hermione a departing glance and before she knew it her bedside swarmed with Marauders and a feisty redhead.
"Hi, um, I'm Hermione," she said with a smile. "I'm a transfer student,"
"Ok, that's what we will say if anyone asks, now tell us the real reason you are here." said a young but highly persuasive Sirius Black.
"I was tortured by Death Eaters, and for some reason, I ended up here." She said bluntly, earning shocked looks from every one.
"Tortured?" a small voice squeaked.
"Yes. Beaten and raped among other things," she said with a wave of my hand, not wanting to get into details.
"That's terrible," said the sad voice of Lily Evans. Hermione's breathe hitched in her throat. She really didn't want to talk about it now.
"Well, introductions?" she asked, even though she knew full well who they were.
"I, fair maiden, go by the name of Sirius Black," he bowed and waved his hand intricately. He grasped Hermione hands and planted a soft kiss on each.
"Oh, please ignore this toss-pot. I am the noble James Potter. At your service," he bowed as well, opting out of the kiss on the hand seeing as Sirius had already kissed them.
"I'm Peter, Peter Pettigrew." squeaked the ugly boy. Hermione had a very hard time gathering the strength to shake his hand and put a smile on her face.
"Remus Lupin." He said as he shook her hand gently. "Don't worry; we're not all like James and Sirius."
"I'm Lily Evans," she said with a warm smile.
"It's really nice to meet you all."
"Remember, anything you need, we are at your service." said Sirius.
"We live to serve," added James with a bow of his head