Hermione groaned in pain, as she regained consciousness. She slowly opened her eyes. She lay on the forest ground, and trees surrounded her on all sides. It was rather dark outside. Where the hell was she? What was the point of sending her to a forest in the middle of nowhere, for all she knew? She groaned in pain again, as she tried to move. Great! She could feel at least a couple of broken ribs. Thanks a lot Dumbledore! Suddenly she heard voices nearby.
"I swear I saw something Tom. There was a bright light and something fell from the sky", an eager voice said.
"If you're making this up McKinnon, I swear I will give you detention for a week!" a deep male voice said. She closed her eyes and kept very still. They were close now.
"Wait… Someone is on the ground. That's what you saw?" the deep male voice asked.
"Yeah… At least I think it was." The other guy suddenly sounded uncertain.
"It's a girl. She looks injured." When gentle hands turned her on her back, she couldn't keep another groan of pain inside.
"Hey, can you hear me?" Hermione blinked, when one of the boys gently tapped her cheek. She looked up into a pair of deep, dark brown eyes. They looked like melting chocolate, and if she had the chance, she could get lost in them forever. Wait where did that come from? When she tried to move again a whimper escaped her mouth.
"Go to Madam Pomfrey. Tell her I'm bringing an injured girl. Go. Now!" the boy above her ordered quickly. There was authority in his voice, she could tell. The other one hurried away from them.
"What happened to you? Where are you hurt?" he asked. His eyes held concern in them. She hadn't really been able to focus on the rest of his face yet. His eyes held all of her concentration.
"Ribs… Broken…" She could barely talk. It hurt like hell.
"Come on.. I'll take you to Madam Pomfrey." Hermione almost screamed in pain, when he lifted her up in his arms like she weighed next to nothing.
"You… are… Tom.. Riddle?" she managed to ask. This time his eyes showed surprise.
"Yes, who are you?" She managed to pass out though, before she could answer.
Hermione woke up in the hospital wing feeling much better. She was alone, but not for long. She couldn't help but gape, when a much younger looking Poppy Pomfrey came out of her office. She couldn't be more than twenty five years old, but there was no mistaking who it was. Hermione would recognize Poppy everywhere.
"Ahh, I see that you are awake. How do you feel?" the nurse asked her in a gentle tone.
"A lot better. Thank you" Hermione said softly. Poppy smiled.
"No problem. I was able to fix your broken ribs, some cuts and bruises, but the scar on your left forearm… I'm sorry honey, but I couldn't fix that" Poppy said with regret, the smile on her face gone. Hermione's face darkened.
"You wouldn't be able too. The knife that was used was cursed with dark magic. I don't know what kind of spells were on it. The scar is permanent just as it was meant to be. Forever a reminder of what I truly am" she finished quietly. She could see tears in Poppy's eyes.
"Who are you, dear girl? What happened to you?" It really was no wonder that Poppy had been shocked to see the state of her broken body. The war had barely been over for twenty four hours, when Dumbledore sent her back here.
"I will answer your questions, but I need to speak with Albus Dumbledore. I know that none of you know me, but I have a very important letter for him that will explain everything!" Poppy looked confused, but she send her patronus for Dumbledore despite her confusion. It didn't take long for Dumbledore to reach the hospital wing.
"Poppy, you send for me?" Dumbledore looked fifty years younger. Of course he would be though, she scolded herself.
"Yes Albus. This young lady here has requested your presence" Poppy told him, and Dumbledore turned to face her. He smiled at her pleasantly.
"You are awake at last, I see Miss..?" He trailed of.
"My name is Hermione Granger, sir. Perhaps my situation is best explained in this letter though. Accio letter" she said out loud, waving her hand slightly. Dumbledore raised his eyebrows in surprise, when the letter in question came flying.
"Wandless magic, Miss Granger? I'm most interested in knowing how you have learned that. Not many wizards and witches can do what you just did. It takes years to perfect!" He sounded impressed.
"When you find yourself on the run and without a want, it is easy to learn how to defend yourself. Please, sir, the letter will explain most of my situation" Hermione said, as she handed him the letter written by himself. The letter was a long one apparently, because he didn't say anything for a while. Then he finally looked at her with a small smile.
"So, you're from the future?" he asked, with the twinkle in his eyes that she knew so very well.