Chapter 4

Hermione exited the library and headed for the Great Hall for lunch. Her mind was still trying to make sense of everything that she had just learnt. Then something hit her, causing her to stop in the middle of a corridor. She could be part Malfoy. If that was the case and Malfoy said that the necklace belongs to the oldest Malfoy, then the necklace belonged to her. Didn't it? This was all too confusing.

The shock of what could happen was starting to wear off, as she started off the Great Hall again. Hermione shook her head. She was now going from shock to denial.

'No. It's not possible and it's not going to happen. It's ridiculous. Preposterous. Malfoy and I? It's not going to happen. I'm going to go far back in time, hell I'll go back to Ancient Egypt and I won't be on Titanic. I'm not…'

'Talking to yourself again Granger? I think we are finally witnessing the know-it-all going insane.' a voice broke her out of her thoughts, a familiar drawl. Malfoy. She was forced to stop as he was blocking the corridor.

'Not that it is of any business, Malfoy.' She seethed. She didn't want to see him right now. She wanted to eat, to be far away from him and any possibility of their 'fate'. She could smell the warm turkey slices and the peppermint of the humbugs floating up the corridor.

'Well you see it is my business actually, Granger.' Answered Malfoy. He paused and let a group of fifth year Slytherins pass by before continuing. 'I'm in the same situation as you Granger. As much as I want to get that necklace' he gestured to her bag, where the necklace was kept. 'back into my family, I know I can't. At least not yet anyway. I don't want to go back to a time where I die. I refuse to go back to that disaster of an era.'

'I agree with you. I don't want to go either. I'm beginning to think that it was just a mistake that the Sorting Hat made, just to throw us off track. We'll probably end up in Ancient Mesopotamia or something and no where near the Titanic.' Said Hermione, who was beginning to get frustrated and knew that her stomach would start protesting soon.

'Agreed. Anything is better than that ship.' Nodded Malfoy, letting some fourth years through.

'Well, now that we have established that we won't be going back to Titanic can I please go to lunch?' Hissed Hermione as Malfoy let some second years through now. Malfoy nodded slightly and let her pass. Hermione pushed past him and headed to the Great Hall. The sweet and enticing smells of food becoming stronger.

She entered the Great Hall she was hit with the full force of the smells and made her way to the Gryffindor table and sat next to Harry and Ron who, for once, were actually reading.

'I see that you are actually reading. I think I might faint!' joked Hermione as she reached for an apple. Harry and Ron looked up and laughed with her.

'After that time in third year when you and I went back in time, I figure it was best if I knew what the rules were because this time around you're not going to be with me to stop doing anything rash.' Said Harry, taking a bite of his orange.

'That's a good idea Harry. I think I might have to skip dinner and read the booklet.' Ron and Harry were shocked. Not reading something straight away was very unHermione-ish.

'You haven't read the booklet Herms?' asked Ron, who had what looked like a train wreck in his mouth.

Hermione swallowed the bit of apple that was in her mouth. 'What, no. Not yet, I was in the library doing some research on the potion.' She hoped that they would buy that, as she didn't want either of them to know that she now had a truce with Malfoy and that she knew where and to what time she was going. Wait scratch that, she wasn't going to that era.

'But you said last night that you found the potion.' Said Harry suspiciously. He took another bite of his orange.

'I did but I didn't look into it in detail. I wanted to know exactly what the effects of the potion were.' Hermione grabbed a jam sandwich and being uncomfortable with their prying, changed the subject. 'So what time would you guys like to experience for the project.' Harry and Ron thought for a moment, Harry answering first.

'I'd like to see the Tudor or the Jacobean eras. I would love to stay in England, but who knows where I will end up.' He said. Ron nodded.

'I agree with Harry. We were discussing this before. The Tudor or Jacobean Era would be nice. But I'd like to go back to when Quidditch was played at Queerditch Marsh back in the eleventh century, or when The Cannons were at the best.' Hermione should have known that Ron would have wanted to go back to some time where Quidditch was involved.

'What about you Mione, where would like to go?' Asked Harry, Ron was now stuffing his face with some cake. Hermione thought. Where would she like to go if she wasn't going back to Titanic?

'Oh, I don't know actually. Maybe to the founding of Hogwarts, or to Ancient Greece or the founding of Rome, maybe even the War of the Roses. Just as long as the surroundings are safe, I don't mind.' said Hermione, knowing deep down that she would be in danger from the moment that she stepped on to the ship. She distractedly pulled apart a jam sandwich while Harry and Ron went back to the topic of Quidditch. This didn't go unnoticed by Harry and he interrupted Ron.

'Is everything alright Hermione? You seem distracted.' Ron looked at her. Hermione looked up and sighed.

'I guess I'm just nervous. We won't have each other to rely on and, you guys have someone that you can at least rely on to be there when you need it. Malfoy on the other hand…' she trailed off. Although she knew what had to happen, would Malfoy actually do it? Would he be strong enough to defy his family? While her thoughts ran one way the boys obviously had a different train of thought.

'I can't believe you're stuck with the git, Mione, and Dumbledore said we can't change partners.' Said Ron angrily, crushing his orange piece, the juice dripping onto his sandwich. 'I bet he'll try to find a way to kill you or one of our ancestors.'

'I'm with Ron on this one.' Said Harry, his emerald eyes looking at Hermione sadly. 'I bet he would try anything to get rid of anyone of us by getting to our ancestors.'

'Actually, guys, I don't think he would try that. I'll even make sure that he is in my sight whenever I can.' Said Hermione, trying to reassure them, and herself, that everything will be alright. That Malfoy would follow the hand the history had dealt them.

'But Hermi…' the bell signalling that there was five minutes left of lunch rang and interrupted Ron. Hermione grabbed her timetable out of her bag, scanned it, and got up from her seat.

'Come on we'll be late for double Transfiguration if we don't hurry.' The boys stood up and followed her to the classroom, not saying a word.

Transfiguration passed quickly for Hermione and true to her word, as soon as they were dismissed she raced to the library to read the booklet that she had neglected to read earlier. She was still denying that she was destined to be on the Titanic. She now believed that the Sorting Hat was wrong and that it was only making up lies to scare her.

As she entered the library, she asked Madam Prince to come and find her at 5.30pm so she could head to the infirmary to take the potion. Heading over to the armchairs, she pulled out the booklet, not noticing that another piece of paper came out with it – her mother's letter. She made herself comfortable and started to read, skimming over what she already knew from her third year.

It didn't feel like a lot of time had passed when Madam Prince came over and told her it was five thirty. Hermione said her thanks and that she would see the librarian when she got back. Putting her booklet into her bag, she headed out of the library leaving the letter behind.

Hermione walked up to the infirmary doors, where the seventh years were starting to gather. They were talking excitedly about the assessment. Some students, like Lavender and Pavarti, were boasting that they knew what era they would be in because they asked Professor Trelawney or had looked into their crystal balls. Hermione ignored all conversations and instead was looking for her two friends. She spotted Malfoy and gave a small nod but he didn't respond.

At five fifty-seven Harry and Ron turned up just as Professor Dumbledore opened the doors to the infirmary. He motioned for the students to come in.

When Hermione stepped into the infirmary she immediately noticed that there were many more beds then there normally were in the room. The thought passing her mind that there were spare beds for other students while they were asleep.

'Good evening students. Before we get started I would like for you to choose a bed next to your partner and then I will explain what will happen next.' Announced Dumbledore. The students obeyed his command.

Hermione glanced at Malfoy and moved to a bed that was to her left. Malfoy followed and took the bed to her right. On her left side was Terry Boot. She sat on the bed. Once everyone was sitting down, Madam Pomfrey came out of a side room with a trolley of glass vials filled with an amber coloured liquid. Hermione knew immediately that this was the potion that they were going to take. She watched as the nurse started to distribute the vials to the students. Dumbledore continued to speak.

'Thank you. Now, as you will have noticed that there are extra beds in the infirmary. This is so we can monitor your vital signs at all times.' He looked at all the students, just to make sure that no one had taken it yet.

'Now, I trust you all read the booklets that you were given this morning.' All the students nodded. 'Thank you. When I tell you, you can drink the potion and you will be taken back to your past life. As I explained this morning, if you are in immediate risk of serious harm or death then the potion will immediately be countered and you will return. Once the potion is taken, you will fall into a deep sleep, similar to a coma. You will be active participant in your time era you are sent to however you will also be present in this time. Are there any questions?' No one raised their hands.

'Very well then, you may lie down and take the potion. I shall see you when you awaken. Good luck and try to enjoy yourself, take notes of key events and keep an eye on your surroundings.'

Hermione looked at the vial in her hand and then at Malfoy. She was worried and by the look that Malfoy was giving her he was too. Hermione shook her head. She had nothing to worry about because she wasn't going to go to Titanic. She would end up some place else. She lay down on the bed and uncorked the vial.

'See you on the other side Malfoy.' She whispered to him. Malfoy nodded slightly. She watched as he downed the vial but he didn't get a chance to place it on the table next to him. The hand holding the vial fell onto his chest. He was gone for now.

Hermione looked back to her vial and she raised it to her lips and swallowed the potion. It tasted somewhat like honey and cinnamon. She could feel the effects of the potion working straight away. She became more tired then she could remember being and the arm holding the vial dropped over the edge of the bed. The vial slipped out from between her slender fingers and fell towards the ground. But Hermione never heard the tinkling sound of the glass hitting the stone floor and breaking into hundreds of pieces because she was already asleep.