Disclaimer: I don't own any Harry Potter characters.
Changes Two Chap 8
Hermione was falling, at least that's what it felt like, on some level she knew she was asleep, just as she knew that the small ribbon pulling her through the sand was more of a metaphor and couldn't possibly be real.
She was in the library, that much was clear but she wasn't really there if the bushy hair bent over a book was anything to go by. She watched as her younger self, for she knew who it was, there was no mistaking that hair, read through the book not glancing up as Harry entered the library and sat across from her at the table.
The elder Hermione watched quietly as Harry pushed a very familiar letter across the table finally forcing her younger self to look up as her eye caught the signature of Jane Williams.
"Did you know?" The-Boy-Who-Lived asked quietly watching as his friends face carefully smoothed over into a blank expression.
The younger Hermione nodded closing her book after inserting a clean quill to hold her place. "I did, even though she and I were different we were also the same, the link between us became apparent after a time and I asked her about it and she told me everything."
It was quiet for a while the glowing candlelight flickered briefly hiding Harry's face for a few moments. "What do you think happened to her?"
The question was asked so quietly that Hermione paused to make sure she had heard correctly. "I'm not quite sure, time travel is still mostly theorized." She paused thinking over her words carefully before explaining as best she could. "We know that changing small things, like in our third year is possible, except that we didn't actually change anything because we had already acted thus everything was already changed. If that makes any sense."
The Gryffindor boy smiles slightly, "Yeah, we knew to leave Hagrid's hut after I got hit in the head with a rock and I got hit with the rock because you threw it."
"Exactly." Hermione agrees nodding at her head. "What- Jane- did was rather different, she said that we had Umbridge as a teacher in Fifth year but when she took that position she changed that, thus, we have never had Umbridge as a teacher. Jane explained time like a ribbon, you print a pattern on it and it's still a ribbon. It might look different, like third year, we didn't change the ribbon just put a few designs on it, but she split the ribbon, Jane still remembered Umbridge as her teacher even though I have never had the toad for a teacher. In essence she created an alternate reality, my guess is that whatever force allowed her to be here took her back once her main concern was done. She's probably back in her own time now with no one the wiser."
The elder Hermione grinned as her younger self suddenly glanced toward her. She knew that they couldn't see her but the twinge in her chest made her believe Hermione felt her presence. With the knowledge that everything was working out for the better, a tug around her throat pulled her back to her rightful place and Hermione's last conscious thought before she slipped into a dreamless sleep was the feeling of silk and a precious gold chain cradling her safely through the heavy sand.
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Hiding a yawn Hermione follows her friends to the DADA classroom smiling as she remembers the dream she had. Absentmindedly she lifts a hand to the empty time turner hanging around her neck and rubs the smooth glass before pausing as a sense of déjà vu settles. She had stood in this very hall on her way to DADA not so long ago, though she was the teacher then, not the student, her hair pulled the same way and her fingers rubbing the hourglass, the trinket feeling smooth against her calloused skin.
Calloused? Hermione releases her grip on the necklace as she realizes what the small niggling in the back of her mind had been telling her. Her hair shouldn't have been long enough to braid down her back, and her hands had been smooth when she returned to this time due to the fact that she was brought back before her training. Looking down the time traveler swallows as she realizes her hands were once again calloused and tan.
"Hermione! Come on!" Ron exclaims staring at the girl exasperated.
Hermione's head snaps up to look at her two best friends. "I forgot something in the dorm, it simply can't wait I'll meet up with you later, bye!" She breathes out quickly turning on her heel and running past students.
"Hermione!"
But the girl paid no mind to her friends' calls, in a near frantic rush to escape the truth of her partial transformation she rushes past painting and tapestries, through corridors and up stairs until finally she has to stop for breath. The witch leans against the wall gasping for breath, glancing back the way she came she begins to pace the corridor arms wrapped around her torso. "This cannot be happening, it is not happening, I'm still asleep that's it, I'm dreaming." Even aloud the words were hollow and Hermione sighed leaning her head back against the stone wall and staring at the tapestry in front of her blankly.
It was a strange scene, one she had seen before, Baranabas the Barmy was trying to teach trolls how to ballet. That means the Room of Requirement is… Turning her head she looks at the wall beside her not surprised to see a door, wondering what the room believed she needed she pushes off of the wall and pushes the door open walking into a cluttered room. "A storage room?" She asks aloud glancing around at the broken furniture and other pieces of interest.
Walking forward Hermione absentmindedly ran her hand through the air, hovering over certain things but not daring to touch them. Something was calling her, something familiar, letting her feet guide her she frowns at a large stuffed troll but doesn't pause. A low throbbing had begun in her chest and Hermione's hand snatches out of its own accord picking up a beautiful tiara.
The time traveler stared down in surprise and a bit of apprehension, her hand had acted on its own and Hermione could feel a pulse from her scar resound with the tiara. "Wit beyond measure is a man's greatest treasure." She read slowly, the quote was familiar and Hermione pursed her lips as she tried to think of where she had read it. Beginning to walk once more through the room she catches sight of a comfortable looking recliner hidden in a corner and decides to make her way toward it. Casting a cleaning charm she plops into the seat and fingers the tiara. "That's it, Rowena Ravenclaw, the quote is from Ravenclaw but… surely not." Glancing down at the item she turns it over in her hands.
It was a horcrux she was sure of that but now the question came on how to destroy the soul, she didn't wish to do another exorcism they seemed to be a bit painful. Leaning her head back the Gryffindor closes her eyes and tries to rack her brain for another way to extract the soul.
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Jerking awake Hermione blinks rapidly realizing she wasn't in her bed. Glancing about she breathes a small sigh as her clouded mind finally supplies her with the information she required. She was in the Room of Requirement and something had awakened her. Catching a glimpse of pale blonde hair Hermione presses tighter against her chair. Draco Malfoy, what's he doing here? Tightening her hand on the tiara she slips her wand out freezing when she feels both objects resonate, recognizing a familiar history.
Snapping her head toward Draco Hermione holds her breath letting it out slowly when she realizes he hadn't heard or felt anything. The blonde balanced an apple in his hand and glanced around the room before opening the large cabinet and placing the apple inside.
Hermione frowned and watched him curiously her eyes widening when he opens the door and the apple is gone. Of course, that must be the vanishing cabinet Fred and George pushed Montague into. Watching closely the girl's breath catches as Draco opens the cabinet and retrieves the apple, her face paling as she notices the missing bite.
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It was a little later, once Hermione was sure Draco had left that she crept from her hiding place and hurried for the door stuffing the tiara into her bag and whispering an unnoticed spell so that no one would pay her bag, or the contents in it, any mind.
She was unsure how late it was, though judging by the view she caught through one of the windows she had missed a great deal of the day, not to mention her classes. Quickening her step the Gryffindor made it to the more inhabited parts of the castle and continued towards the main level debating on whether to join everyone at dinner or not. She walked past the large black dog, ignoring his growls as she turns the corner and catches sight of a large mass of students disappearing through the main doors. Dinner must have just started. She mentally states preparing to join them. Unfortunately her preparations are cut short as someone slams a hand over her mouth and wraps an arm around her waist dragging her back the way she came.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Please Review! Sorry it took so long I've been very busy but that's no excuse. I've got a bit of ideas I hope to type up soon and post in the not so distant future, fingers crossed. I promised you all a juicy scene between Hermione and Sirius, it will be coming soon, perhaps more than once in different ways, we shall see, so no promises except that one, my muse changes quite often. Yes Hermione did sleep a long while in the Room is there a reason I did that besides to catch a glimpse of Draco? You'll have to wait and see. Bye!