disclaimer: I do NOT own HP peeps. XD

AN: Argh, had some difficulty with the song this time, bleargh. But this is part two, you could say...totally different from the first three chapters I hope.


Infitiulus Rememdium

Chapter 4: Planning

Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for
You know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you

It was not the most graceful of landings. Of course, travelling by Portkey never yeilded the most dignifying results. Fortunately, there did not seem to be anyone to see it. Despite the fact that Dumbledore had told them his younger self would be somewhere in the office, the man was nowhere to be seen.

Regardless, the four quickly untangled themselves, and fanned out through the large office. He had to be somewhere in the office, otherwise the item would not have taken them there. Frustratingly, the officehad many hiding places.

"And who are you four?" His voicesounded just as Hermione remembered it at the welcoming feast in her first year, light and mirthful. It held a trace of concernor curiousity, but he did not sound angered in the leastat the pre-term arrival of several strange teenagers.

When she turned toward him, he wore his customary half-amused smile, as he stood on the top of the flight of steps next to Fawkes. She barely suppressed a relieved sigh, they had truly made it to the past!

"Headmaster sir, I know this is going to be hard to believe..." she said, taking a breath.

"But we're from the future-" Fred said, stepping forward.

"-Nineteen years, infact-" George chimed in.

"-And what's rich is that you sent us here!"

Dumbledore stared down at them with a neutral expression for a few moments, and then proceeded down the stairs, a slight smile on his face. "I believe you, I think...those scales you hold...there is only one set in the world, and I have them in my desk."

"Really? What do they do?"

"They weigh wool."

Fred and George stared at him as if he were wearing pink-and-purple polka-dots on his robe.

"If you would please put it on the table?"

Fred jumped so quickly to put it down, it almost looked as if it had erupted in flames. Dumbledore's smile widened slightly at Fred's reaction, and walked up to the small table, drawing his wand and aiming at the silver instrument before him.

"Inflammo!" A jet of flame burst from the tip and enveloped the item in a raging fire. Soon, the item was little more than a silver puddle on the desk.

He turned twinkling blue eyes back at them, "Now, tell me everything, please."

Hermione gave a tired nod, and sat next to the Weasleys. The four took turns speaking, while he sat back and listened attentively, only speaking occasionally to encourage them. Between the four of them, and his steady, all-knowing gaze, Hermione found herself revealing much more than she had intended--the Order, Voldemort, Harry, everything.

Dumbledore was silent for a few minutes after they finished their accounts, most likely in deep contemplation, before finally speaking. "And you intend to improve your timeline by working on things here?"

"Yes. It was your idea."

"Ah, well. How can I argue with myself?" he gave a slight chuckle, "However, if you tell anyone else the truth, you will likely impede your mission, rather than help it. We shall have to call you exchange students--from America."

"But I don't know America!" Fred whined, "Why not France?"

"Because you cannot speak French."

"How would you know?" Fred pouted, looking guilty.

"Age brings wisdom, I have heard." Dumbledore said with his sure, fatherly smile, "Now, you say you are all from the same house?"

Hermione nodded, "Gryffindor."

"Oh...Headmaster..?" Fred said, standing, "What year are the Ma-er-James and Sirius in?"

"They will be starting their sixth." his eyes twinkled madly at Fred's crestfallen look, "However...as 'I' told you four to keep track of them--and they are a difficulkt bunch to keep track of--I was hoping you four would be willing to become sixth years regardless of your current age?"

"But I haven't got my O.W.L.s!" Ginny gasped.

"Perfectly fine...America doesn't have O.W.L.s."

"Well...as much as I loathe going back to school..." Fred sighed.

"...It's not as if we have the Weaslet's Wizard Wheezes anymore..." George mulled.

" A true tragedy." Fred wiped an invisible tear from his eye, "But it is a worthy sacrifice to protect those noble Mauraders!"

"Yeah right!" Hermione scoffed, "You mean meet the Mauraders!"

"Are you kidding?" Fred looked affronted.

"After what they've done, we owe this to them!" George said, frowning.

"You may room in the Gryffindor dorms. I shall give the teachers your cover story." Dumbledore said, standing, "The password is Red Wine, but for now it is best that you Floo there--the house elves will bring you up food...until the term begins and we can give you a proper introduction to class and staff."

Handing them a bowl of Floo powder, he smile and walked out of the office. The four travelers stood in silence for a few moments after the door closed behind the Headmaster before Hermione finally walked over to the fireplace, and took a fistful of Floo powder from the bowl.

"Well then...we should go, in case he brings back any teachers."

The Weasleys nodded, and walked up beside her as she threw the Floo powder in the fire, "Gryffindor common room!"

There was the familiar spinning sensation, and she found herself standing in the Gryffindor common room. Rand and gold tapestries and variousdecorations adorned the room, plush red couches and chair were arrianged conveniently around tables and the fireplace. There were glosy wooden tables, and chatty portraits, and a ghost reading in the corner...the room looked exactly as it would nineteen years from then.

Ginny gave her a feeble smile, "I can't believe I got to skip my O.W.L.s!"

Hermione frowned, and rolled her eyes, "I'll talk to the Headmaster to see how you might get them done...you really need those to get a job!"

"Obviouly not in America!"

The laughter of the twins interrupted their conversation, "So that's what it was!"

"What was?" Ginny asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh..uh...nothing." Fred mumbled.

"Just an itch..." George mumbled

"An itch?"

"Yeah, nothing important." Fred nodded.

"Oh! You're talking about when you took those gloves?" Ginny said, face brightening.

"Er..yeah."

"Well for me, I didn't have a lot of time, but Professor McGonagall showed me what it was like to be a cat!" Ginny said excitedly, eyes gleaming, "It was so amazing! Maybe I'll become an Animagus, too!"

"Yeah? Well Moody was showing me some cool tricks he used against Death Eaters!" George said, "Albeit, I don't know most of the curses he used, but..."

Hermione rolled her eyes and sat down on a couch in the far corner, as the three Weasleys chattered on and on about their thrilling experiences with the Guardian Charm.

I've got no room to complain...it was my choice...I could be there instead of Ginny...but nooo...I had to take that stupid paper. She recalled the words of her so-called 'Guardian', He called me pathetic...that I was wrapped up in always being the one who made the noble sacrifice...that I was so busy trying to garner everyone's respect and admiration I didn't realize I never got any...

She groaned softly and dropped her face into her hands, I can't believe he was actually right...well...no more, my old reality is gone, and so is the old Hermione Granger...from now on I'm going to make sure I'm not the only one making sacrifices around here.

Ginny's voice interrupted her thoughts, "Umm...so..did you learn anything interesting, Hermione?"

"Oh yes! I'm a bloody Potions Mistress now!" she snapped,glaringup at the red haired girl, "Why, he showed me all kinds of illegal potions in the five minutes we had...and showed me oh-sp-many Dark hexes! Heck, we even roasted marshmellows!"

By the timew she was finished, the twins were watching her with bemused smiles, and Ginny was gaping open mouthed at her.

"S-Sorry, Hermione..." Ginny mumbled, blushing, "It...it was really great of you to take that paper instead...I don't know what I would do if...if..."

"If what?" she sniffed, waving a dismissive hand at the red-head, "It's not like he'd attack you. I took it because he was the better of the two candidates for Guardians. Professor Mcgonagall is only a Transfiguration Mistress, as flashy and fun as I'm sure that is, Professor Snape's skills are much more practical and varied."

"Hey...actually..." Fred said, smiling.

"...He's not actually our 'Professor' anymore..." George nodded, leaning over the back of the couch.

"...Nor will he likely ever be again..."

"...heck, technically he never was!"

Hermione frowned up at them, "So?"

"'So'...we don't have to call him 'Professor' or 'sir' anymore!" Fred said with a huge grin.

"And he can't dock points for it!"

"Infact..."

"Since he's around our age anyway..." George shrugged innocently.

"Oh no you can't!" Hermione snapped, standing, "He may not be Professor anymore, but you are not even close to being on a first-name basis with him!"

The twins looked crestfallen.

"And, if he's a Prefect, he can indeed dock points!"

It seemed as if someone had stolen away all of the blood from the three Weasleys.

It was Ginny who spoke first, "I hadn't thought that...that snarky little..."

"Point deducting psycho, would still be about to ravage our houses." Fred finished, frowning.

"That's it! I'm teaming up with the Mauraders!" George announced, "Strike pre-emptively! For our safety!"

"Give me a break, you would have teamed up anyway." Hermione rolled her eyes, "And you will do no such thing."

"Excuse me?" Fred asked, raising an eyebrow.

"We are here to fix things. We protect and keep together the Mauraders." she said, giving what she hoped was a firm frown, "First things first, we stop their bullying!"

Fred sighed, "Hermione, how is harmless--"

"Harmless!" she snapped, jumping to her feet, "Even when they supposedly 'calmed down', do you know who they persisted in attacking?"

"A greasy bat?"

"A Death Eater!"

Ginny gave a shudder, "Do you think he already is one...?"

"He was probably born one." George scowled.

"George!" Hermione yelled, stomping her foot, "That's exactly what I'm talking about! Whould you quit it! Don't forget what he's done in our time!"

"You mean dock points for breathing too loudly?"

"You know what I mean!" Hermione advanced on the twin with an accusing finger, "I've had enough! For five years I've heard how evil he is, and how he is mysteriously behind every plot to steal candy! Not once, not even partially have you or Ron ever been right!"

Ginny winced at the name of her late brother, but the twins seemed unfazed.

"Maybe it's because he acts like he would!" Fred sniffed.

"Have you ever considered that maybe his snarky aditude is because everyone has alwaystreated him like the bad guy!" she wanted nothing more than to send a few curses at the twins to get her point across, but she was worried they might be strong enough to activate their Guardian Charms, "How would you like to be treated like the source of all evil? I don't know about you, but I could only take it so long before I snapped!"

Fred chuckled, "My mother blames everything on us!"

"She has reason to, she's usually right--unlike you!" Hermione insisted, "And that is an entirely different matter, she blames mischeif on you, not homicidal plots to rule the universe!"

"Wow. Who said he did that?"

"When we were at Grimmauld Place, Ron blurted it out once, and Sirius made it a standing joke during Order meetings."

The twins gave her incredulous looks, "How would you know that?"

She put on a sly smile and shrugged, "Well...the Headmaster said we'd gain the knowledge of our Guardians when we needed it."

The twins seemed not to know whether to be interested or scared, watching her with a wary eye as she passed them, walking toward the dorms.

"I'm going to get some rest, see you!" she called over her shoulder as she ascended the steps, then added in a whisper through clenched teeth, "Gits."

Honestly, Dumbledore said we'd gain such knowledge only in self defense, not so we could brag! I overheard Ron saying it to Sirius, and Tonks joked about it with me.She sighed as she fell into hercustomary bed, it was just as soft s it had been in the future, I can't believe I'm going to see James Potter...and I'll get to see Sirius again!

"Let's promise not to let any of them die this time...ever." Ginny said out of nowhere, she had to have slipped in right after Hermione laid down.

Hermione gave a soft smile as she closed her eyes, "Yes...this timeeveryone stays happy."

"...You know..." Ginny said after a minute, "They do understand, even if they pretend not to."

"Do they? I don;t think they do." Hermione said flatly, looking over at the red-head, "There is only one reason we're here. Maybe each of us has a different goal, The Order, The Burrow, The Mauraders,Harry...whoever, everything we do here has to be for them."

"I do."intense brown eyesturned toward her, "I'lldo anything for them, I'll do everything."

Oh - you can't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
I can't help it - there's nothin' I want more
I would fight for you - I'd lie for you
Walk the wire for you - ya I'd die for you

Ya know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you


AN: Argh, I'd like to point out, that I know from personal experience, that you can only take being called the bad guy over and over and over and over now matter what you do for so long, until you finally say 'You know what? Let me show you 'evil'!' /sigh/

The song is, of course, 'Everything I do' by Bryan Adams

-Yusagi Sombermoon