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Time of the Essence

Chapter 5

Dear Miss Hermione James

I will gladly meet with you to discuss you attending Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please come to Hogwarts Thursday at 2:00p.m. I will meet you at the front doors.

Headmaster Dumbledore

Hermione quickened her pace when she saw the gates to Hogwarts grounds. She was so nervous, she had no idea what to say. She had thought about it, but now that it was time to tell Dumbledore her story, her mind was a blank. At first, when she got the letter she was so happy he would meet with her. Now the excitement was gone, replaced with worry.

What if he didn't believe her?

Should she tell Dumbledore she was from the future?

Will he let her attend Hogwarts to finish her education?

Will he like her?

What story will she tell him?

Looking up at the looming doors into Hogwarts ahead, she saw Dumbledore standing there waiting for her, looking as calm as ever. She had missed him when he died at the end of her sixth year.

Reaching him, Dumbledore smiled down at Hermione. "Good afternoon Miss James."

"Good afternoon Professor Dumbledore."

"Shall we go to my office?" Dumbledore asked, opening the door and leading Hermione to the Stone Gargoyle guarding his office. Dumbledore said the password, " Skittles" and they continued up the stairs to the oak door. He opened it, ushered her in, closed the door and went and sat down behind his office. Hermione walked over and took the seat across from him. Dumbledore's office looked the same as it did in her time before the final battle.

"Now, Miss James. From your letter it is obvious you would like to finish your schooling at Hogwarts."

"Yes, I would like to finish my seventh year here at Hogwarts. I have read Hogwarts: A History and have always wanted to attend here."

"How old are you my dear, and what school did you go to before?" Dumbledore asked looking at her with his penetrating eyes, twinkling maddingly.

"I am sixteen, turning seventeen in September. I was home schooled before. I lived in a town with a few other small wizarding families. Instead of us going to a big school, The magical parents taught us."Hermione answered, trying to keep a steady voice.

"Why is it that you can not finish your education by being home schooled my dear?" Dumbledore questioned.

" Death Eaters attacked my town, Wingleton, North of Little Winging." Hermione answered, hoping the vague story will suffice. "I am all that's left." She finished, a single tear escaping, which she quickly brushed away.

Dumbledore's eyes lost their twinkle. "I see." He continued starring at her for a few more seconds. " Do you have your previous grades? Yes, Thank you." Dumbledore opened the folder she handed him of her grades. He looked at them for a minute. "Very impressive.

"I also had to be home schooled because I am a werewolf." Hermione looked into his eyes as she said this, hoping she would get the same treatment as Remus.

"We will sort something out during the full moon. It would make me very happy for you to attend Hogwarts. You will have to be sorted with the first years at the Welcoming Feast. Here is your ticket for the Hogwarts express. To get to the platform, you must walk between platforms nine and ten. It will leave at 1:00 o'clock September 1. I hope you like it here at Hogwarts," He finished with a smile. Hermione smiled, more relaxed then she had been in months.

"Thank you Sir. I'm sure I will. Good-bye."

"Good-bye Miss James."

And with that Hermione left the office, walked to the door and began the trek back to the Shrieking Shack. She had to work in 10 minutes.

She apparated to her Alley across from Seabrook Books. Walking across the street, she had a skip in her walk.

She had an identity anyone except Moody would believe.

She was getting enough money, she would soon have to open a Gringotts Vault.

She had met James, and believed he would be a good friend.

She was going to Hogwarts, the closest place to home she had here.

Things finally were beginning to work out. Perhaps being in this time will not be as difficult as she thought.

With a week before September, Hermione believed it was time to go shopping for school supplies. She had also come to the decision to open a vault today while she was in Diagon Alley. The place held to many memories, she didn't like going there much, so she hadn't been there since meeting James. Hermione always had been the type of person to face their problems, but this time, she decided instead of facing it, to walk around it. ' The first step to recovery is acceptance. I have accepted the fact that I have a avoidance issue with Diagon Alley. I'll take it step-by-step.' Hermione thought, trying to make a logical excuse for not going to Diagon Alley earlier.

Now however she had no choice but to go. Mrs. Seabrook had given her the day off to get her books and other necessities for her school year. She was very proud of Hermione for getting into a very good school, so proud, she had given Hermione a little extra on her last paycheck.

Walking into The Leakey Cauldron, Hermione went and sat on a barstool, ordering a butterbeer. Tom set the bottle down in front of her with a small smile and walked of to a table where three loud witches had just say down at. Hermione took a sip of her butterbeer, wondering which store she should go to first. She would need to go to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions for her robes and uniform, Flourish and Blotts for her books, quills and ink, and the Apothecary to get potion ingredients. First she would go to Gringotts. And so, finishing her butterbeer, put two sickles on the counter, stood up and walked to the back of the pub. Tapping the desired brick three times she walked into Diagon Alley towards Gringotts.

Hermione walked up the stairs and through the doors into Gringotts. Goblins scurried about everywhere, with bags of gold, silver, bronze and jewels of every kind. Hermione looked around for a Goblin who wasn't busy. Hermione walked up to a young looking Goblin. "Excuse me, do you think you could please help me?"

"What would you like miss?" The Goblin asked, not looking very happy.

"I was hoping I could open a vault here, and turn the muggle money I have into wizarding money please."

"This way." the Goblin led Hermione to a desk covered in papers in neat piles. The Goblin looked through the papers. "Your vault will be vault 972. Here is your key." He handed Hermione her vault key. "What money would you like exchanged to Wizard money?"

Hermione handed the Goblin her paychecks for the last 2 months. He looked them over, then called another Goblin named Griphook over. Griphook took the paychecks and ran off. The Goblin who had been helping her all along looked at her. "This way." and he led her to the carts.

Getting in Hermione closed her eyes when it started to move. These carts were too much like flying a broom in her opinion. The cart was vooming down the tunnels for what seemed hours when it finally came to a stop. "Vault 972." Hermione and the Goblin got out of the cart and walked over to Hermione's vault. Giving him the key Hermione stepped back and let him open it.

There in front of Hermione was her vault filled with the gold she earned. She may not be rich, but she had money. Putting a few handfuls into a bag she brought, Hermione reluctantly got back into the cart.

Leaving Gringotts, Hermione walked over to Flourish and Blotts. She had fallen in love with this story when she first saw it. Walking in, Hermione went to find the books she would need. In the aisle most of the books she needed were in she saw ir was occupied. Looking closer, she recognized Remus Lupin. She went ahead and began picking up the books she needed. Hermione was looking closer at a book about werewolves and the moon cycle when a voice behind her asked, "Hello, are you interested in Werewolves?"

Turning around, Hermione noticed a pair of amber eyes looking at her. "Um, Hi, well yes they are really interesting, well that may not be a good word to describe it. There are a lot of things we don't know about werewolves. They really are misunderstood people."

Hermione looked away blushing. "Have you ever met a werewolf? A werewolf probably is the only person who could tell you accurate information about them." Remus asked, smiling at her blush.

"Well actually I have met a werewolf. He did not like to talk about it very much, so the next source of information would be books about them."

"I see. I notice you have many of the books on the Hogwarts list. Are you going there?"

"Yes, I will be going there to finish my seventh year. Do you go there?"

"I do, it is a really great school. The professors there are very intelligent and know how to teach. The only boring professor is Professor Binns, he teaches History of Magic, or at least I think he is the only boring teacher, my friends will tell you differently." Remus finished with a smile, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes both James and sometimes the future Sirius had Hermione noticed.

"I have a feeling I will be agreeing with you. I have already met Professor Dumbledore, and if the other professors are like him, I think I will like them all." Hermione smiled at Remus. He seemed a lot more relaxed.

"Yes, Dumbledore is a really interesting man. Very trusting, something you have to respect." Remus turned serious while saying this. Hermione knew he was most likely referring to his Lycanthropy.

"Dumbledore does trust people. I admire that. But him being trusting is not the only thing people respect about him."

"No, he is an amazing wizard. The greatest Headmaster Hogwarts has ever seen, and he hasn't been the headmaster for very long."

"I have read about the four houses at Hogwarts. Which one are you in?"

"I am in Gryffindor. All my friends are in it too, but you can have friends of course in other houses. What house do you hope to be in?" Remus answered proudly.

"I hope to be in Gryffindor, but I'll be in whatever house the hat decides right?"

"Yeah, there's nothing wrong with the other houses, some may sa..." Remus stopped talking and turned around when he heard someone call his name. Walking towards them, none other than James Potter and Sirius Black.

"Hey Moony, we were looking everywhere for you. Hello Hermione." James said, nodding to Remus in greeting and smiling widely at Hermione.

"Hello James, how are you?"

"I am perfect, and yourself?" James asked.

"I am good thank you."Hermione couldn't help but smile back at the Harry-look-alike.

"I am ecstatic to hear it. It seems you have already met my friend Remus Lupin, and the git beside me is Sirius Black. Ouch!"

Sirius Black smacked James in the back of the head. " Git ah? Hello, I am Sirius Black, the handsomest Marauder. And what may I ask is your name milady?" Sirius had turned his silver penetrating gaze on Hermione after hitting James. Hermione was shocked. Out of all the people she had met that she knew from the future, Sirius looked the most different. His eyes were not hard and dark like they were in the future. They were pools of silver, paretically glowing. His face was full and healthy. He looked like the rich noble he was, the man that had ancestors that were pure-blooded, respected and wealthy.

"My name is Hermione Granger." Hermione needed to learn not to blush when she met people she personally knew or heard of from the future.

Sirius took Hermione's hand, bowed down and kissed it."Nice to met you Hermione Granger."

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