Disclaimer: Harry Potter does not belong to me in anyway whatsoever.

Chapter 2

"Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose." - Kevin Arnold

A strange girl lay on the seventh floor corridor's floor near the Marauder's knees, covered in her own blood. Her curls splayed out in a swooping halo. Remus studied the blood on her shirt more carefully, it wasn't actually soaking through her shirt and only resembled a handprint; her hands were covered in the warm red liquid.

"What should we do?" Peter reached out and twisted her wrist to reveal her palms scratched and still bleeding.

Sirius gently plucked a sliver of glass from one of the cuts which bled more fiercely. "Know any healing spells?" They looked at one another hopefully but all sighed and looked back at the pretty girl.

"Pomfrey gave me a bottle of Essence of Dittany so I wouldn't have to keep asking for it." Remus remembered and pulled out his school bag and scrambled around in the mess. He began to worry that he didn't have any after all when the coolness of glass met his fingertips and he pulled the vial out with a sigh of relief.

James directed Sirius and Peter to get the rest of the glass from her hands and reached out for the Dittany. "Here Moony." Remus handed him the fragile vial. Peter and Sirius finished dropping the shards of glass at her sides and looked up to James at the same moment.

Anxiously the boys watched as James placed a single drop on each of her palms, they began to heal immediately, the flesh stitching together before their eyes. The girl's head rolled to one side and her right hand twitched but other than this she didn't move.

"Well, let's get her to Dumbledore." James announced once her hands were fully healed.

"And how exactly are we going to do that Prongs?" Remus scoffed, eyeing the unconscious girl.

"You're going to carry her of course." James said matter of fact-ly as he stood and dusted off his knees.

"W-w-what?" Remus sputtered and Sirius barked with laughter at his red face. The werewolf's eyes glared at his long haired friend.

"Come now Moony! Where's your Gryffindor chivalry? Besides," James pushed his glasses to the bridge of his nose with his index finger. "you're the only one here with super human werewolf strength." He patted Remus on the back then handed Sirius the map. "Make sure no one's coming will you?" Sirius followed James direction with no question .

"Says here her name's Hermione. Hermione Granger." Sirius had the map close to his face, studying the five dots on the seventh floor, clustered together.

"Never heard of her." Remus grumbled as his hands shifted under the girl's shoulder blades and knees. Peter helped him adjust the girl's weight. Her head thumped against Remus' chest and he watched her eyelashes flutter on her white cheeks but never open. But he did have to admit she wasn't heavy in the slightest.

When James saw that Hermione was safe they moved down the hall together. Sirius leading the way, the map held firmly in his hands.

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There was a soft, steady pounding in her left ear. For a while it was the only thing she did feel conscious of. Then she noticed the scratching of a robe on her cheek and the stinging in her hands was gone. Hermione's eyes began to flutter open. She was lying on her back staring up at the ceiling and four worried faces. "She's awake." Peter said and no one else had anything to add.

Her eyes shot open when she remembered where she was and was surprised to find herself in someone's arms. She pushed herself out of them and tried to stand. But the moment her feet touched the ground she began to fall backwards. Two people grabbed her arms and steadied her. She teetered for a moment then looked around. Her eyes were adjusting to the light and she could see she was standing outside Dumbledore's office the gargoyle was once again stock still.

"We don't know the password." Remus was looking at Hermione, as if worried she was going to fall again.

"We thought you might know." Sirius shrugged but was looking at her hopefully.

Hermione looked at the gargoyle, unsure what to do. It was unnerving to be so confused. Normally she had the answer to everything. She felt lightheaded and wished she could find a sofa or bed to lie down on. "Harry said they had something to do with candy usually." Her head hurt a lot but at least she could talk.

"Candy?" Remus said in amusement. But Hermione didn't find anything funny at the moment; she glared at Remus in annoyance.

"Well then how about…. Lemon drops?" Sirius said. The gargoyle didn't move. James laughed and Sirius glared at his friend. "You try then, if you think you're so smart and you know Dumbledore's favorite candy."

"Alright then." James said, a little arrogantly Hermione couldn't help but notice, and stepped up to the gargoyle. "Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean." The gargoyle still refused to move.

Remus glanced at the girl next to him, she looked pale as a ghost and had dark circles under her eyes. With his friends preoccupied he wondered if he should talk to her. Try to make her feel more welcome. Should he ask her about the cuts that had been all over her hands?

Sirius laughed at James and they proceeded to argue playfully. While they bickered Remus turned to Hermione. "By the way, what is your name?" Hermione froze; could she tell them her name? In the future they might remember her and it could be a disaster.

Sirius and James had heard Remus over their fighting and also turned to look at her. "Are you new?" James had stopped fighting with Sirius for a moment and was also looking at her eagerly.

"Where are you from?" Sirius supplied.

Hermione was unsure what to do; she needed to ask Dumbledore what the best course of action was but if they were stuck out here in the hall… "Well I-" A searing pain shot through her head and everything was going in and out of focus. She could feel herself drop to her knees but hardly noticed the sharp jab. It was nothing compared to the pain in her head.

Hermione couldn't see anything but she could hear the boys talking around her.

"What's wrong with her?"

"Hangover. Definitely."

"I'm not drunk." She barely managed to say it but the moment she did she wished she hadn't. Her head hurt even more now.

"Should we take her to the hospitable wing?"

"We could get in trouble if we went to the hospitable wing. It's past curfew." Peter reminded Remus.

"We could get in just as much trouble with Dumbledore." James pointed out and they all looked at Hermione expectantly.

"I'll be fine. I need to see Dumbledore." She ignored them giving each other wary looks and stared at the gargoyle. As she got to her feet again she had an idea, she wasn't sure what made her think of it but she was reminded of her friend from elementary school's favorite candy. She'd never been allowed to eat candy because her parents were dentists but Jane had loved... "Charleston chew?" The gargoyle leapt to the side with no hesitation and Hermione was elated but confused. What a weird coincidence. She hadn't really spoken to Jane since going to Hogwarts. Curiously she wondered what had become of her.

"What the hell is a Charleston Chew?" James asked. Everyone but Remus was staring at her like she'd grown two extra heads.

"It's a muggle candy Har-James."Hermione said absently, she'd almost said Harry. Geez she needed to be more careful. She didn't notice the raised eyebrows of the boys around her. She made a move to jump on the revolving staircase.

"Wait a minute!" Remus was looking at her in distrust and had stopped her from jumping on the moving staircase. "How did you know his name?" Hermione bit her lip and looked between all the boys who looked shocked and angry as the same realization hit the rest of them.

"W-w-well I— Well you're the Marauders aren't you." She gestured to them and Sirius and James smirked at each other. "Everyone knows you…" She trailed off and watched them warily. Sirius and James had given each other high fives and Peter was grinning idiotically. Remus looked unsure and Hermione knew why. "That doesn't mean that I approve of your rule-breaking of course." Then she pushed past them and entered the staircase. Remus smiled slightly and they all followed her.

They all stepped onto the moving staircase which slowly brought them to the large wooden door. No one moved to knock and Hermione rolled her eyes as she stepped past the nervous boys and knocked firmly. "Come in." Dumbledore called. When the door opened Hermione wasn't sure what to expect. Dumbledore was sitting peacefully at his desk. He was much younger looking than how Hermione remembered him. In front of him was his pensieve. He looked up in surprise and when he saw all these student's entering his office so late at night, he stood. "What's going on? Misters Potter, Black, Lupin and," he paused for a second, like he had forgotten. "Pettigrew?" Then he noticed Hermione and he looked even more astonished. "Who's this?" The light in his blue eyes twinkled as he gave Hermione a polite smile.

Hermione took a deep breath to steady herself then stepped up to Dumbledore's office. Now that she'd broken the Time Turner the only person that could help her get home, was Dumbledore. Throwing caution to the wind Hermione decided to give Dumbledore the truth. "My name is Hermione Granger, sir." She brushed some of her hair out of her face then glanced at the boys standing behind her. All of them looked curious but still confused. Hermione pulled out the wrecked Time Turner from her pocket and laid it on Dumbledore's desk. She was too terrified to glance at anyone's faces. "I'm from the future. I came here by some slip-up and now I have no way to get home." She heard someone gasp behind her but she ignored it. She was close to tears but she wouldn't cry. "Please say you can help me." Finally she looked at Dumbledore, whatever he was feeling Hermione had no idea, he was unreadable.

"Wait, did I hear you right? Did you say future?" Sirius looked from Hermione to Dumbledore then back to Hermione. "This is all a sick joke right? Any second I'm going to wake up in my bed. Right, sir?"

Dumbledore looked amused. "Actually no, Sirius. I believe Ms. Granger is quite serious." He stared into all their scared faces. "I think it would be best if all of you went to bed except Miss Granger here." He looked knowingly at Hermione then waited for all of the others to leave. Remus was the last and he looked over his shoulder at Hermione's hunched shoulders. He felt sorry for her; during her plea for help he couldn't help but notice she'd been on the verge of tears the whole time.

Dumbledore moved the pensieve to the side of his desk and made his fingers into a steeple. He was observing Hermione over his hands for a long time before he finally sighed and laid them flat on his desk. "Do you actually expect me to believe you're from the future?" he knew he could perform Occulmency and discover the truth, but he was always hesitant to use his great skills without need.

Hermione had been anticipating this question and she hung her head. "I can't expect you to do anything sir. But let me prove to you that I am."

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows and shook his head but didn't say that she couldn't, so Hermione took a deep breath and tried to think of something that would prove she was from the future, but wouldn't change the future by giving Dumbledore the information. "There's a student here…. Severus Snape?"

"Yes?" Dumbledore raised his eyebrows but didn't stop her.

"He'll be the potion's master and Head of Slytherin house."

"Mr. Snape is an excellent potioneer…." He didn't seem impressed and Hermione knew she'd have to say more.

"Remus is a werewolf. James has an Invisibility Cloak. Sirius left home only this summer." Hermione didn't say anything about Peter or that they were all animagus.

"You have a lot to say only about them… do you know them in the future?"

"Yes sir." It was only partly true; she knew all of them except James.

"This could be very dangerous." Dumbledore stood up again and began to pace his office. When he passed Fawkes he pet its head absently. He was looking a bit peaky, on the verge of bursting into flame.

"So you believe me?" Hermione felt elated. She was very close to leaving her worst mistake behind.

"Yes but now we have to figure out a way to get you home." He sat back at his desk and picked up the broken Time Turner.

"You mean…" Hermione felt her elation subside and give way to panic. "You don't know how to help me?"

"Well it will be a simple matter of getting another Time Turner. We'll send a request to the Ministry and you'll probably have a new one in a few months."

"Months?" Hermione squeaked but Dumbledore ignored this.

"What is really worrying is the side effects of your time travel. How far back did you say you went?" Dumbledore asked innocently but Hermione remembered in horror what she had read about the side effects of using a Time Turner. Usually an hour or two had none; the wearer could even go back a year or two with only a few minor headaches. But twenty years was unheard of.

The furthest anyone had tried to go back was one wizard who had traveled back ten years. His family never saw him again because he had gone back and as time passed, he had lost his memory of ever traveling, or even his future life. He'd gone on with his life in the past until he came full circle to his own time and met his own family and had tried to kill them, the experience of seeing another one of himself had driven him insane. Hermione gulped and tugged at her old robes and looked at Dumbledore in horror. "Twenty years." It came out barely above a whisper but Dumbledore heard her and tried to not show his panic.

"Oh dear. This is most disturbing. What was your purpose in traveling, was it really so urgent?" Hermione didn't answer but let her head fall into her hands. She was such a fool, trying to change the past. Hadn't McGonagall told her there were consequences for messing with time? How could she have possibly believed she could change Dumbledore's fate?

Seeing her distress Dumbledore was at a loss for words. He had a feeling she knew that her memories would slowly begin to fade and she would become accustomed to life in this time.

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Dumbledore escorted Hermione to the Gryffindor common room; it was close to two in the morning, Dumbledore decided they had done enough for one night. She had explained as much as she could, but Dumbledore knew she must be in pain, worried about the fact that she might lose herself in this time.

"I'll have McGonagall set up your class schedule; you'll repeat your sixth year so you can finish school in your own time." Dumbledore stopped in front of the portrait of the fat lady and waited patiently for Hermione to answer.

Hermione didn't contradict him. She wouldn't actually be going to school next year. "Yes. That's fine."

"Good. Now the password is Bubotubers." The fat lady mumbled, still half asleep, she swung open. "Good luck Hermione." He walked off and Hermione stepped through the portrait.

When she stumbled through she looked up and saw James, Sirius, Remus and Peter seated on the floor by the fire. They all looked up when she came through the portrait and gave her winning smiles. She was struck again by the similarities between Harry and James. The glasses and unkept hair, she couldn't help but smile back at them.

"You waited for me?" She felt oddly pleased that they had cared enough. They barely knew her and yet they were all sitting there by the fire in the wee hours of the morning.

"Of course we did." Remus said in concern. The scar on his eyebrow wrinkled as he furrowed his brow and Hermione wondered where he'd gotten that one.

"We had to know everything! I mean- the future! That's so cool!" Sirius was almost jumping up and down around the room. She smiled again, this Sirius was so…different, from the older one she knew. Of course, this Sirius hadn't been in Azkaban for twelve years, it wasn't really a wonder he was so much more carefree.

"You have to tell us our futures!" James added and Hermione panicked. That was the last thing she wanted to do.

"Of course she can't tell us the future you idiots!" Remus sounded bemused but also angry. Hermione was exhausted and couldn't help but laugh at their bickering. Then she choked and she was surprised to find herself crying.

"I don't think she likes us much." Sirius joked. He was trying to lighten the awkward moment.

Hermione decided to smile again. "Sorry it's just that..." She bit her lip in indecision. It was so strange, she knew these men... boys, but not really. She shook her head and gave them her best smile. "I wish Harry was here to see this." Hermione sighed.

"Your boyfriend?" Sirius joked. Hermione was appreciating his shenanigans more and more. He really wasn't that arrogant underneath the façade. He just wanted the people around him to be cheerful. She laughed.

"Boyfriend?" Remus asked as he rolled his eyes and smacked Sirius upside the head.

"Harry is a nice name. Perfect for a kid." James smiled. Hermione watched Peter as the boys continued to joke. He didn't talk much but stared at James, Sirius and even Remus with admiration. Some tiny part of her felt a little sorry for the rat-like boy but mostly she felt disgust and hatred build in her chest when she looked at his watery eyes. He clearly liked his friends very much, she wondered what had changed. She'd keep an eye on him.

"Oh you're thinking you're going to marry Lily again aren't you?" Sirius teased James. While Hermione had an insane desire to laugh. But instead she yawned.

"I'm going to bed." She tried to say over their argument but she went unnoticed up the stairs to the girl's common room.

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Harry paced up and down and suppressed the urge to throw Hedwig's cage across the room. The owl wasn't in it, but was supposed to be flying back from sending Hermione and Ron their respective letters.

The moment Harry had returned home, he had begun to compose letters to his best friends, hoping to start formulating a plan for what was to happen at the end of the summer. A week later Ron had replied in turn but Hermione had not. It was strange to Harry who was used to Hermione's immediate reply to every one of his letters before. This would be his second letter to her and if she didn't reply he was going to have to check up on her. Between Dumbledore's death and Snape betraying the Order, he couldn't be sure if Hermione or Ron were ever safe. Suddenly there was a tapping at his window and he rushed to let Hedwig into the room. She wasn't carrying anything with her.

Harry slammed his hand into his desk and Hedwig jumped and gave Harry a hoot of protest.

"Sorry." He muttered and collapsed on his untidy bed.

There was a loud pop and Harry leapt from the bed in astonishment, drawing his wand at the same instant. But when he turned around he tucked it back into his robes and gave Dobby a half hearted smile.

"Hello Dobby."

"Hello Mr. Potter sir. Dobby came as soon as he could. But he has been busy at Hogwarts." Dobby bowed low and his hats almost fell to the floor. Still bowing Dobby continued. "Dobby has news of Harry Potter's friend for Mr. Potter, sir."

"My friend?" Harry couldn't help but panic, did he mean Hermione?

"Yes sir. One week ago Dobby went to clean the Room of Requirement and when he entered, Ms. Hermione Granger was already there. It is summer holidays when most students are gone, sir, so Dobby was confused."

"Hermione was at Hogwarts? Why?" Harry couldn't help but think that he was just as confused as the poor elf.

"Dobby doesn't know sir. But when Dobby wanted to ask Ms. Hermione why she was there, she disappeared."

"You mean she Disapparated?"

"No one can Apparate in Hogwarts sir."

"Right right." Harry muttered in annoyance. Hermione was gone and she had somehow Disapparated in Hogwarts? Or disappeared? Harry ran his hand through his hair and tried to figure out this puzzle. "Thank you Dobby, for telling me." He remembered to add and Dobby bowed even deeper in reply and then Disapparated.

Harry went to his desk and found a quill and parchment and sent a letter to the only father figure he had left in his life, Remus Lupin.