All we have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given to us
~J.R.R Tolkien~
Hermione had managed to convince Madam Pomfrey, who looked a lot younger than Hermione remembered her, that she felt perfectly fine and was quite capable of walking across the Hospital Wing without needing someone to hold her hand. She had gotten dressed in the school robes provided to her by Dumbledore and felt strangely uncomfortable in the silver and green colourings of Slytherin. Several times when she caught her own reflection in one of the mirrors she had to stop and look at herself. She felt lonely and empty inside. Apart from some of her teachers, she knew nobody here. It was like starting over. Starting over in a time she did not belong in.
The door to the Hospital Wing opened and Hermione curiously turned around. A girl walked in, dressed in Slytherin robes and a prefect badge pinned on her chest. She had thick, brown curls and almond shaped brown eyes. Something about her struck Hermione immediately and an uncomfortable feeling crept into her chest. Her brain was rapidly adding pieces of the puzzle together. She had worked out 1969 was Bellatrix Black's final year. And seeing this girl she knew she was not wrong, though she appeared to be a fifth year. She knew that strong jaw line and she recognized the cheekbones. But most of all she recognized the familiar trait of the Black family beauty. Her eyes narrowed. This girl was too young to be Bellatrix. And her hair was not as dark. And this was most definitely not Narcissa, who was as fair as the others were dark. Hermione gasped silently. This was the only Black sister she had never met. This girl who would one day become the mother of her friend Nymphadora. She had watched Nymphadora die in battle.
"Hermione Granger?" Andromeda Black asked, a smile breaking through on her face. Now that she smiled she looked even less like Bellatrix. "The Head Master asked me to come and see you. He said you were new. Is there anything I can do to help you with? I brought your time table" She pulled a piece of paper from her pocket and gave it to Hermione.
"Th-Thanks" Hermione stuttered, still overwhelmed by the emotions she felt inside. She tried not to think of the Andromeda she knew, still mourning the loss of her daughter and son in law. She glanced down. Looking at Andromeda in front of her was like staring back in time. The time table didn't look too bad. In theory she should be having Potions now. History of Magic was next. It was the final class of that day.
"Is something wrong?" Andromeda questioned curiously. She had noticed Hermione's rather odd reaction towards her. She had expected her to have more questions, to be curious. But this new girl was quiet. And she didn't quite understand how she had managed to end up in the Hospital Wing already.
"No... Nothing's wrong. You err... you just remind me of someone I knew" Hermione looked back up from her time table. She smiled and shot a glance at Madam Pomfrey in her office. "Say, I am about to kill Madam Pomfrey and I am dying for some fresh air...Any chance you can get me outside?"
Andromeda smiled too. It did not happen often that as a prefect she got to skip the remaining half of her class. "Sure. I'll take this chance to show you around"
She tried not to look at the faces of the other students as they walked through the castle. She was too afraid she would recognize some of them. Seeing Andromeda was hard enough. Being confronted with the faces of the dead was something she would try to avoid. The castle did not look that different than it did in her time. There were a few less paintings. Some of the suits of armour were less dented, which Hermione blamed on Peeves throwing stuff at people. Hermione followed Andromeda until they finally made it out of the castle. Hermione's lungs eagerly took in the fresh air. The sterile smell of the Hospital Wing had made her feel sick. A weak sun was peering from behind thick clouds. The grounds were wet. It had rained overnight.
"You'll find that Hogwarts holds many secrets, Hermione" Andromeda said and turned around. Hermione nodded and smiled. She doubted Andromeda knew half the stuff she did. She knew every secret passage way, every secret tunnel and every hidden room. Six years with Harry Potter had taught her more than many others knew. "The stairs like to move so sometimes you find yourself ending up completely on the wrong side of the castle. And teachers will not accept that as an excuse when you're late for class!"
"Andy!" A voice called from behind them and Andromeda spun around. From the castle two figures appeared, both dressed in the familiar Slytherin robes. As they came closer Hermione recognized them. One was a darker version of Andromeda, a year or two older. It was Bellatrix. Raven black curls fell down the witch's shoulders. They were a sharp contrast with the porcelain tones of her skin. Her eyes were as dark as the night. The second girl was younger, with golden blond hair and intense blue eyes. She looked out of place beside her two dark haired sisters. Nonetheless she had something in common. Narcissa was stunningly beautiful. Bellatrix was a seventh year and Hermione guessed Narcissa Black had to be a third year.
"Oh hi Bella, Cissy" Andromeda said when her two sisters reached her. Almost instantly Bellatrix's dark eyes swept across to Hermione, intensely searching her face. She seemed to smile in approval when she realized she was wearing Slytherin robes. "Hermione, meet my sisters Bellatrix and Narcissa. Bella is in your year so perhaps she should show you around"
"I wasn't well behaved enough to be a prefect so they gave the badge to my little sister instead" Bellatrix smiled, causing Narcissa to glance up at her. "I think I set fire to poor Severus Snape too many times"
Somewhere in the castle a bell rung, echoing sharply across the grounds. Hermione recognized it instantly. It was the bell that announced that their next class would start in ten minutes. She glanced at Andromeda and then at Bellatrix. Standing here, surrounded by the three Black sisters, seemed as unreal as it could be. Here in front of her stood one of the most notorious Death Eaters, a woman who would marry one and the third would be disowned from her family because she married Muggle born. Looking at Bellatrix it was hard to imagine that a few years from now, Azkaban would rob her from her beauty. She was most definitely beautiful. Her eyes were not as far sunken back in her face and they had not yet lost their shine.
"Come on, we had better go to class" Bellatrix said and grasped Hermione's arm. She turned to her sisters. "See you at dinner time" Narcissa and Andromeda both went separate ways after saying goodbye to their sister. Narcissa had Herbology; Andromeda had to go to Care of Magical Creatures. Both of which were outside the castle. Hermione followed Bellatrix back into the castle. She felt disgusted somewhere. She had to rely on her... She had to rely on her to find her way in this new time. A whole new world. A world in which she did not belong.
They arrived outside the History of Magic classroom just before the start of class and they made their way inside. There wasn't a more boring subject than History of Magic but it was quite useful to have as a NEWT. Hermione's eyes quickly searched the classroom for an empty seat but the only one remaining was beside Bellatrix. She sat down, pulled her book out of her bag and opened it. She wondered if no one wanted to sit next to Bellatrix because of her reputation or because she did not tolerate others in her personal space.
Professor Binns, the only teacher who was technically a ghost, started his usual reciting of important events in the wizarding world and Hermione noticed that when she looked around, the expressions of her fellow students were identical to those she remembered of her friends. Ultimate boredom.
She could feel Bellatrix lean in and turned to look at her. The eldest Black daughter looked slightly bemused. "Perhaps I ought to have warned you. This class is extremely dull. If ever you need an extra hour of sleep or so, I recommend you do it here" She pointed in the direction of Wilkes, who was already hanging over his book and who was obviously fast asleep. Hermione grinned but failed to come up with a quick witted reply.
"So, where are you from?" Bellatrix inquired. Clearly the lesson did not interest her at all. She had turned her back to her teacher and was now fully focused on Hermione. It did not appear as if Professor Binns even noticed no one was paying attention. Another thing that did not change in thirty years. "I don't think I have heard the name Granger before. You are Pure Blood, right?"
Hermione flinched. Even now the manic obsession with being pure of blood was evident in Bellatrix's behaviour. She remembered what Dumbledore had instructed to tell her when he had come back to see her earlier this morning. She straightened her spine. "Yes. Of course I am. Pure blood all the way. And we have been so for several generations. The blood line remains untainted. My family originates from Australia. Perhaps that is why you have not heard of them before"
Bellatrix nodded, her eyes darkening rapidly as she spoke. She licked her dark red lips. Intense black eyes caught Hermione's. There was something hauntingly beautiful about her. "Well, you must be pure blood. They would never let a filthy Mudblood or half blood in Slytherin"
Hermione ignored the rumbling in the pit of her stomach. Anger was a wasted emotion in this situation. It would not get her anywhere. She regretted having chosen Slytherin over Gryffindor but she was least likely to be confronted by those she had once cared for. She nodded and found her strength to speak. A voice that sounded nothing like her own spoke "Better be rid of them"
Bellatrix eagerly leant in after those words. "My thought exactly, Granger" She glanced past Hermione in the direction of Lucius Malfoy. Hermione had seen him when she walked in. Seeing young Lucius made her realize how much Draco truly looked like his father. She saw nothing of Narcissa in him. And having seen how innocent she looked it was hard to imagine she married a prat like Malfoy. "Perhaps you and I ought to talk one of these nights, Granger. I can assure you, there are many among us who agree with you"
Hermione nodded, her eyes not letting go of Bellatrix's. She still looked so much like a girl. So little like the deranged and demented witch she had encountered several times in her life. There was still a sparkle in her eyes. A sparkle that had returned just in that one split second before she died. The thought brought back the image of Bellatrix Lestrange, tumbling down to the floor. It was impossible to imagine that this raven haired young woman would one day become the most notorious Death Eater of all.
After what felt like an eternity of History of Magic, Hermione joined Bellatrix as they made their way down to the Great Hall. She sat down next to her at the Slytherin house table and answered some questions of her fellow students. All seemed pretty happy to accept her explanation as to why she had only just arrived. After about fifteen minutes the conversations died and Hermione focused on her food. When she looked back up from her sheppard's pie she found Minerva McGonagall looking back at her. There was something questioning in her teacher's eyes and Hermione wondered whether McGonagall tried to picture her as a Gryffindor.
After dinner Hermione was asked by Bellatrix to go for a walk. They left the Great Hall and left the castle through the main entrance. Ten minutes later they were strolling around the Black Lake. Eventually, Bellatrix sat down on one of the large rocks and Hermione followed. Darkness had fallen and the first stars appeared in the ink black sky. It was full moon tonight and the beautiful white orb reflected of the water. Hermione glanced at Bellatrix. She looked even paler in the silver moonlight. Her hazel brown eyes searched for Bellatrix's black orbs. She tried not to sound too curious and eager. "What did you mean exactly when you said there are others who agree with us?"
"There are those who believe Muggle borns and Half Bloods are equal to us" Bellatrix's voice dripped with contempt. Dark eyes flickered dangerously. "However, they are not nor will they ever be. And there are some who would do anything to purify the world of such filth. There is one, who will erase them all when he gains his power. The Dark Lord shall erase those filthy Mudbloods, Bloodtraitors and other unworthy filth"
They sat in silence for awhile. In the distance a bird began to sing a midnight song. The mention of Lord Voldermort frightened Hermione. She knew his rise was imminent. Within the next few years he would reach his full strength and the first wizarding war would be upon them. From the corner of her eye, Hermione looked at Bellatrix. As devoted as she was to the dark side, she still looked so young and somewhat fragile. Somehow Bellatrix reminded her of herself. She had seen her reading during meal times, much like herself. She was one of the few students who had subscripted to the Daily Prophet.
"Have your parents found a suitable husband for you yet?" Bellatrix casually asked though Hermione detected a hint of resistance in her voice. Dark eyes glanced at Hermione.
Hermione bit her lip, unsure what to answer. She had only known Bellatrix for a few hours. But somehow she felt like it had been days. The eldest Black daughter was a mystery. She had an aura of darkness and mystery around her and yet there was still something delicate about her. There was an odd connection, something she could not explain. Something she did not understand. It had replaced the fear she felt for being trapped in this time. It had even erased some of the loathing for the Slytherin robes.
"No" Hermione simply answered. There was a dull feeling in her chest. "Have yours..."
"As soon as I finish Hogwarts" Bellatrix answered sharply, cutting off the rest of Hermione's question "They made the arrangements over the summer. I will marry Rodolphus Lestrange"
Hermione remained silent. She knew arranged marriages were not uncommon in the wizarding community, especially amongst those of pure blood. She had always known Bellatrix's sister Narcissa married Lucius Malfoy because it was what was expected. She should have realized Bellatrix's marriage was perhaps even less loving than Narcissa's.
She didn't know how long they had sat like this but eventually Bellatrix stood up. Without speaking another word she walked back to the castle, leaving Hermione to her own thoughts. It was clear she was no longer looking for company. Her body posture was rigid though she seemed to dance through the shadows of the night as she walked across the grounds back to the castle. Hermione watched her and saw how occasionally Bellatrix's skin seemed to glow in the moonlight. Minutes later she had disappeared. Hermione was quite happy to be alone and watched the moonlight and the stars glisten on the water. It was such a peaceful night and she wondered to herself why she had not done this before. She would always sit in the library when she looked for quiet moments. She promised herself that, if she ever found her way back, she would sit beside the Lake like she did tonight and watch the moonlight.
After a few days it almost seemed normal to mingle with Bellatrix, Andromeda and Narcissa and join in their classes. During some moment she would almost forget this was not her own time. She had spent a lot of time with the three Black sisters, but especially with Bellatrix as they were in the same year. The after dinner walks had become something they did every night. They would walk up to the Lake and sit by the water as the moonlight cast silver beams of light through the trees. And at first, they had been quiet for most of the time but after two or three nights they had begun to talk. Bellatrix had told Hermione everything there was to know about her mysterious Dark Lord, her obvious dislike of her soon to be husband and her disapproval of Lucius Malfoy, who was to marry Narcissa in a few years. She had told Hermione what it would take to join and how she could not wait for the day she said goodbye to the corridors of Hogwarts.
It was her second week in her new timeline and she and Bellatrix were sitting by the Lake as usual. Bellatrix was lying on her back and pointed out all the constellations in the black sky. Hermione watched and listened. The sound of grass snapping under boots made her sit up and she watched how from the shadows Professor McGonagall appeared.
"Ah Miss Granger" she said when she discovered Hermione lying in the grass. Bellatrix sat up too. Dark eyes blazed at the sight of the Gryffindor Head of House but McGonagall was not impressed. "Miss Black"
"Professor McGonagall" Bellatrix answered through clenched teeth. The mutual dislike between the two witches was obvious. Bellatrix had told Hermione how she believed Minerva McGonagall, a pure blood herself, to be a traitor because she supported Mudbloods and Half Bloods. Though at the same time, Bellatrix excelled in her Transfiguration classes. Her loathing for her teacher did not obstruct her eagerness to perform.
"Miss Granger, I was wondering whether I could perhaps have a word. The Head Master has received a letter from your parents that he wishes to discuss" Professor McGonagall said, green eyes resting on Hermione. If she was worried about Hermione's growing friendship with Bellatrix Black, she did not show it. Then again, she did not know what Bellatrix would become.
"Of course" Hermione answered, suspecting that McGonagall meant they had somehow managed to contact her own timeline and she stood up. She glanced at Bellatrix. "I'll see you in the common room, Bella"
"She must highly approve of you, Miss Granger. Bellatrix Black does not strike up friendship with anyone and she never allows anyone in her personal space" McGonagall said when they were out of hearing range and Hermione glanced at her. How much did she really know about Bellatrix Black? She didn't answer and followed her teacher into the castle. They made their way to the Head Master's office. Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, the tips of his fingers pressed together.
"I found her at the Lake, Albus. In the presence of Miss Black, just like you guessed" McGonagall smirked and gestured for Hermione to sit down in one the chairs.
"I dare say you have adapted well, Miss Granger. Many others would find it hard to conform to a different timeline but you have done remarkably well. I would guess you actually know many of your Slytherin classmates too, albeit in a different form?" Dumbledore cocked an eyebrow behind his glasses.
Hermione nodded. She felt reassured her answer would not change the timeline. "Yes sir. Severus Snape will one day become your Potions teacher" She left out his dealings with the Death Eaters and Lord Voldermort. Nor did she mention he was dead in her time. "Lucius Malfoy will marry Narcissa Black and they will have a son, Draco. He started Hogwarts the same year I did..." She briefly smiled. "Andromeda Black will be disowned because she marries a Muggle born. They have a daughter who becomes a highly skilled Auror"
"What about Bellatrix Black?" McGonagall curiously asked "I heard she is to marry the eldest Lestrange heir after her final year"
Hermione bit her lip. "She does. But..." She hesitated. Speaking the words out loud reminded her once again how rare spending time with Bellatrix really was. She had come to see a whole different side of the deranged Death Eater. A teenager still, who questioned herself and who was desperate to belong and be part of something. "She's dead in my timeline"
"There appear to be an awful lot of deaths in your time, Miss Granger" Dumbledore concluded, his blue eyes connecting with McGonagall's for a moment. "It sounds as if there are dark times ahead"
Hermione averted her eyes. Tears burned behind her eyes. "There are, sir. But telling you would only affect the outcome. And like you said, I will know when I can or cannot provide you with information without altering the timeline..." She looked up. "Why did you wish to see me, sir?"
"We have managed to establish contact with your own timeline, Miss Granger" Dumbledore said and his blue eyes glistened behind his glasses. He pointed at a small diary lying on his desk. "With the help from a very talented friend of mine, we have managed to establish a link between two different diaries. When you write in one, the message will appear in the other and vice versa. It is not a transportation portal but the link has been made so now both sides can communicate. Call it a paradox if you wish but it works..."
Hermione sat up in her chair. Hope had sparked inside her. There was maybe a chance she would not have to stay much longer. At least she could be in touch with home. Her eyes were transfixed on the diary. "Who owns the diary on the other side, sir?"
McGonagall smiled and she placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder. The touch was comforting and made Hermione sit back in her chair. "I do... Or better, the future me does"
"And since thirty years has passed since now and then, there is a chance they will be able to create a method for you to travel back with the help of the Time Turner that remains on this side. Alterations will have to be made but the Ministry today knows very little about that. However, in your own time the concept of time travel has been researched far more and may provide the answer" said Dumbledore and he then passed the diary to Hermione. She opened it only to find a blank page. She sighed and then clutched the book tightly against her chest.
"Thank you, sir" she whispered as tears began to sting behind her eyes. She glanced up at McGonagall, who was still standing at her side. "And you too, Professor"
They nodded and Hermione took this as a sign to leave. She stood up and walked to the door. With the door handle in her hand she turned around. Dumbledore still sat behind his desk, just like she remembered him. It was painful to realize that she held the power to overturn it all. She could let him live. She had the power of letting Harry grow up with his parents. She even held the power to stop Voldermort before he would destroy the world they all knew. But she could not answer to herself whether she should.
Clutching the diary she walked down the stairs and made her way to the Slytherin common room. Bellatrix was sitting by the fire but looked up when Hermione walked in. She narrowed her eyes at the sight of the diary. "What is that?"
Hermione fell down in one of the green leather arm chairs and put her feet up. "Just something my parents gave me. It's nothing"