Hermione held her breathe, trying to see who it was. The man, she could tell, was walking with slow, small steps, swinging back and forth across the hall. He had a big round belly and was obviously drunk. Professor Slughorn walked by Hermione not noticing a thing.
Letting out the breathe she was holding in, Hermione watched him stumble around the corner to his chambers before opening the door the rest of the way and beginning the long trek back to The Shrieking Shack.
Slipping back into her sanctuary, she relaxed, walking to her room to begin brewing the potion. Sneaking around Hogwarts wasn't the same without Harry and Ron. With them, it was fun, an adventure. Alone it was scary, a mission. What she would give to have them back, to not have this constant fear that she was alone. Hermione always felt safe with them. Now, not even Hogwarts made her feel safe.
Hermione looked down at the slimy lime green potion. She had just finished brewing the identity potion. She had been hoping for this day to come for the past two weeks, now looking at the potion, she wasn't as eager to drink it. It reminded her of the Polyjuice potion Harry, Ron and her brew in their second year.
Shaking her head to stop the memory, she grabbed the glass of identity potion and brought it over to the table with the candle on it beside the piece of paper she wrote the identity she desired. Hermione decided to keep her name, but change her last name to James, her mother's maiden name. Instead of being eighteen (from her time traveling) she would be sixteen so that she could go to school with the Marauders for her plan to work. -- Make friends with James and Lily, stop Voldemort from killing them and marking Harry–.
Burning the piece of paper, she put the ashes into the potion and mixed it up. The potion then turned a brilliant violet. It was time to drink it.
Hermione, wanting to get this over with, clearly read the incantation needed, "vetements mon personnelle identite", and closing her eyes, drank the potion. Hermione winced as the thick potion, tasting of dirt and grass slid down her throat.
Opening her eyes, Hermione saw a folder on the table. Looking through it she found a birth certificate, Hermione James' parent's death certificates, her grades from first year to fifth and every other official certificate she may need to pass of as Hermione James. Closing it she pulled a piece of paper towards her, dipping a quill in ink and writing,
Dear Headmaster Dumbledore
I hope this causes no inconvenience, but I wish to have a meeting with you, discussing the possibility of my attended Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry this September. Please contact me if you consent to my wishes and would like to meet with me.
Hermione James
Blowing out the candle, Hermione climbed onto the old bed with a chunk bitten out of the end and fell asleep, dreading the nightmares her mind conjured up, of best friends, collogues and parents being killed right in front of her, while a tall, pale man with red eyes evilly laughed.
Walking down Diagon Alley, Hermione had a skip in her walk. She was going to the post-office to send her letter to Professor Dumbledore. Looking around she smiled a little smile at the children running around so happy and carefree, boys of many ages presses up against Quality Quidditch Supplies window, looking at the new Clean Sweep 490., girls running after their mothers, giggling all the way, women and men stopping to chat with old friends. This is the world they wanted, the world Harry, Ron and many others died for.
As Hermione walked over to the post-office, not looking where she was going, she bumped into someone, falling backwards. God she was clumsy for a werewolf. Looking up she saw Harry looking down at her, but not Harry. His eyes were brown and had a gleam that reminded her of Sirius.
"Hello, sorry about that," this Harry look-a-like said, holding out his hand. She took it, and let him help her up.
"Hi, I'm sorry I bumped into you, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. Well I knew where I was going, just wasn't paying attention to what was in front of where I was going." Hermione babbled, blushing at how stupid she must of sounded. She couldn't help it, she was awestruck at how much he looked like Harry. Hermione could not have actually walked into...
" I'm James Potter,"he said, laughing at her blush.
"Hermione James," Hermione replied giving him a smile.
"It is nice to meet you Hermione James, you don't go to Hogwarts do you?" James asked, trying to recognize her from school. Most people who came to Diagon Alley were schooled at Hogwarts.
"No, but I am hoping I will be allowed to attend. I was just sending a letter to Professor Dumbledore."Hermione answered holding up her letter and nodding to the post-office.
"Well, we wouldn't want you walking into anymore innocent bystanders, so I will escort you to the mighty post-office."James Potter exclaimed, holding his arm out like a true gentleman.
Laughing Hermione took the offered arm. "Why did you not attend Hogwarts before?"
"I was home schooled with a couple of other witches and wizards,"Hermione said slowly, trying not to tear up remembering those she went to school with. "Death Eaters attacked my town, now I need a school to go to." She told him, giving him a evasive version of her story. Hermione wasn't ready to tell anyone everything, but she will tell Dumbledore it, it was not like she had much of a choice.
"Oh,"James said, giving her a sad look. He opened his mouth to say something else. Hermione beat him, wanting to change the subject. "So you go to Hogwarts, what is it like?"
He frowned for a second before a huge grin replaced it."It is awesome, a home away from home. The quidditch games are the best part, the food is just awesome, -- I'll show you where the kitchen is--, and my friends there make it an even greater place. You'll have to meet them. There's Sirius Black, he's my best friend, charmer of the ladies, Remus Lupin, the brain, and Peter Pettigrew the quiet one. I'm pretty sure you will get along with them, it's impossible not too. They are the greatest friends a guy could ask for." He answered, telling her storied of their pranks while she walked around finding an owl to send to Dumbledore.
As he took a break to breathe she commented, "Why did you say 'you'll show me where the kitchen is'? I don't know if I can go there yet." Chuckling at the end. ' Just like Harry' she thought.
James looked at her like she had gone mental. "Dumbledore will let you go, he's that kind a guy, a little kookoo but will do anything for anyone if you ask."
Hermione gave a nod in understanding and James saw this as a chance to continue telling her stories of their pranks. "..and so we turned Snivellus' hair yellow. He practically glowed for a week before it wore off." While walking down Diagon Alley, Hermione looked over at James' smiling face. An expression rarely seen on Harry's face the last few months of his life, after Ron was killed.
As they neared Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions a tall man looking like James but older began walking towards them holding the hand of a beautiful brunette with James' eyes. 'Harry's grandparents' Hermione thought looking at them stop in front of us, smiles on their faces.
"James,"his mother called, "where have you been? We have been looking everywhere for you."She said to James, then looking to Hermione, " Hello. My name is Sharon Potter and this is my husband Harold Potter." She extended her hand. Hermione took it, smiling, "I'm Hermione G-James."
Mr. Potter shook Hermione's hand smiling kindly. "It's nice to meet you Hermione."
"It's nice to meet you Mr. Potter, Mrs. Potter."
"Hermione is hoping to go to Hogwarts this year, she was home schooled before."
"Well I hope you get in Hermione." Mrs. Potter smiled at Hermione. "Thank you."
"We need to get home son, I'm sorry to steal my son away from you Hermione but we have to get home."
"Oh, It's no problem Mr. Potter. I must get home too."
"It was nice to meet you Hermione."
"It was nice meeting you too, Bye James."
"Bye Hermione."
Hermione waved goodbye as they walked into the Leakey cauldron where they were to floo home. Hermione seeing them enter the door turned around and walked into the alley nearby to apparate home.