Disclaimer: I don't own any Harry Potter characters.
Changes Two Chap 13
She was nearly to the Great Hall, in fact she was in the same hall Sirius had accosted her in, when a paper was thrust in her face.
"What did you do?" Draco Malfoy desperately demands waving the Daily Prophet in her face.
Hermione takes a step back and snatches the paper from the boy before looking at the heading.
Explosion rocks Diagon Alley
After Knockturn Alley Attack
"Ms. Granger?" Dumbledore asks entering the hall at a leisurely pace. The old man looks over the pair questioningly, his gaze growing sad as he notices how Draco begins to twitch before taking a step back as he draws nearer.
Hermione closes her eyes and snags Draco's robes before he can retreat. Not looking at the elder wizard she holds out the paper for him to read. "Apparently Knockturn Alley was attacked yesterday, Draco was asking me whether I did it."
"Hmm, did you have something to do with this Ms. Granger?" The headmaster asks, looking at the girl over his spectacles after he glances at the headline.
The woman huffs and tightens her hold on Malfoy as he tries to back away again. "I assure you, I didn't go to Diagon Alley, nor Knockturn Alley yesterday." She states dryly trying to blow a loose strand of hair out of her face.
Dumbledore looks over the girl closely searching for any sign of lies before giving a brief nod. "Well then, I hope neither of you will tarry long, breakfast is the most important meal of the day after all." Granting both students a nod the elderly wizard slides past them and enters the Great Hall.
The time traveler watches him go before straightening to her full height, not that it really mattered compared to the boys that towered over her but still… Hermione finally let's go of Draco's robes and watches him stumble slightly before she darts forward and pops him with the newspaper.
"Hey- oww!"
"Honestly! What do you think you're doing? You can't just accost someone in a public hallway and then accuse them of committing a crime!" Hermione snaps swatting the boy again. Giggling pulls her attention and the witch scowls at a few second and first years before chucking the paper at them. The small group, made up of Ravenclaw's and Gryffindor's, shriek and run for the Great Hall.
"Cor- you really are mental." Draco mutters eyeing the woman as he backs away from her slowly, keeping a tight grip on his wand. "Why do you-" Cutting himself off the blonde growls and runs a hand through his hair.
"Why do I what?" Hermione asks slowly noting the way Draco looks away from her gaze. "Care?" She finishes knowing she chose the right word when Draco's head snaps around to look at her. "Would you rather me not?"
Draco swallows before scowling at the girl. "You're ruining everything!"
"It's a gift." The time traveler admits dryly, glancing toward the end of the hall as Luna, Ron and Harry appear. Ron's mouth immediately falls open and Hermione's face twists with disgust as she sees his partway chewed food. "Shut your mouth Ronald, that's disgusting."
Harry sniggers and grabs the abandoned paper off the floor. "Did you really attack the first years with the post?" He asks with a lazy smile, his eyes however, were narrowed as he took in Hermione and Draco's positions.
"What's HE doing here?" Ron interrupts, scowling at the Malfoy heir and taking a threatening step forward.
The time-traveler sighs as she notices Draco withdraw into himself as he gathers his outer mask of indifference. "Honestly." The woman mutters, shaking her head as Luna ambles past the boys.
"Good morning, cousin. I've brought your favorite, don't worry it isn't poisoned." The Ravenclaw states, smiling at Draco as she hands him a green apple before turning to Hermione. "Still channeling Abeona, I see."
Hermione groans and slams a hand over her face. "Blasphemy Luna, complete and utter blasphemy."
"Only if it isn't true."
The brown haired witch opens her mouth to respond only to stop and actually think about what the Ravenclaw said. "Oh for Circe's sake." Noting the confused look on the boy's faces Hermione decides to explain a bit. "Abeona is the Roman goddess of outward journeys, generally those of children making their way into the world without their parents' roof over their heads."
"Makes sense." Ron agrees, freezing when everyone looks at him. "What? She's a bossy little twat- no offense- but we all know without her we'd be dead or failing by now."
Draco snorts and takes a bite out his apple, raising an eyebrow as Hermione clasps her hands together and smiles at the redhead. "I'll take that as a compliment." The muggleborn states before taking a deep breath. "Now, I don't know about everyone else but I really need some food before classes and we haven't much time for breakfast, so let's go. We'll continue this later Draco." Brushing past the boy Hermione pats his shoulder, giving Luna a partial hug before she throws herself at the two remaining Gryffindors'. "I'm so proud of you for not starting a fight!" Hermione exclaims hustling them towards the Great Hall.
"Get off!" Ron exclaims shoving the girl away.
"I still think he's up to something." Harry comments letting Hermione keep a grip on him.
The witch blows a raspberry as she drops onto the Gryffindor bench and starts grabbing food. "I've already dealt with that, now we have bigger things to worry about."
"Like defense with Snape." Ron points out following the girl's lead and grabbing more food to eat.
"And why your name comes up funny on the map." Harry adds slapping Hermione's back as she chokes mid-swallow. He was watching her again, it was a bit unnerving truth be told, and the Potter heir continues when he realizes he has his friend's undivided attention. "The map, I was looking at it yesterday and I noticed your name doesn't show up right- it's like someone has written a different name on top of yours, Padfoot's is like that, too."
Hermione tilts her head and focuses on building a breakfast sandwich before answering. Most likely the map was reacting to their blending of selves, the potion she and Sirius drank in the past changed their names on the map then and it's possible that, while being not as successful, it is still working. "I made a potion." Hermione states finally, lowering her voice so as not to be overheard. "It was supposed to help protect us from magical traces- like the map or ministry tabs, to change our names in case we ever have to go undercover."
"That could come in handy." Harry comments slowly, grinning at the large black dog that shuffles into the Great Hall with Crookshanks on his back. Most of the students snicker at the sight, having gotten used to Hagrid's new stray, and go back to their breakfast or hurry from the table to get to class early. "I guess it's a good thing they get along, huh?"
Hermione follows his gaze and chuckles as she watches Padfoot and Crookshanks approach. "I suppose, it would be better though if they weren't both bed hogs." The witch states offhandedly before slamming a hand over her mouth as she hears sputtering from some of the students around her.
"They're what?" Ginny exclaims partially rising from her seat as Ron yells out as well, spraying his partly chewed food back onto his plate.
Now, Hermione is no coward, she's faced things in her twenty-seven years on Earth that would send lesser witches to the insane asylum. However, she was also no idiot, and accidently blurting out that she was familiar with Sirius' bed actions was trouble. "I have to go, bye." Hermione hurriedly announces, grabbing her sandwich and jumping to her feet as she rushes from the table.
"Hermione Jane Granger, get back here- this instant!" Ginny demands ignoring the rest of the hall as she sets after her friend.
Of course, Hermione knew better than to stop, girl talk with Ginny about Sirius was not something she wanted to have at the moment. Letting out a yelp as a tripping jinx smacks into her Hermione automatically tucks her arms in and tumbles to the ground before jumping back up and continuing to the defense classroom. She was in such a hurry that she didn't notice the attention that their spectacle was causing, or the fact that the redheaded girl had stopped chasing her.
Instead Ginny Weasley had the scruff of Padfoot's neck and was eyeing the dog dangerously. "You and I are going to have a talk." The girl states finally, pocketing her wand as her brother joins her.
Though the sandwich was a bit smashed from her tumble and roll it was still in one piece, mostly, and Hermione ate it with gusto as she leaned against the DADA's classroom door. The witch licks her breakfast crumbs from her fingers before glancing around and turning to the room's locked door.
Though Snape was now the teacher of this subject, Nicholas had informed her that Hogwarts remembered her which meant that perhaps she would be able to unlock her old classroom. Glancing around to make sure she was still alone Hermione placed her hand flat on the door and focused on the fact that this was her classroom, after all, she'd never technically been fired from the position. Sure enough the door swings open and Hermione scurries inside before closing and locking it behind her.
Flouncing over to her student desk Hermione plops into her seat and pulls out a book. Let's see how much of a mind-fuck she could cause Snape when he came back to his locked room and found her inside.
Dumbledore watched the scene infront of him with some amusement. It seems that despite how much Hermione Granger has changed she was still surrounded by friends and given to bouts of childish behavior. Fawkes dives through the window and Dumbledore sets his goblet down as the phoenix lands on his shoulder. "You have a reply already, dear friend?" The old wizard asks taking a piece of parchment from the bird. Reading the message he nods to himself and rises from his seat.
Making his way from the head table Albus chuckles when he sees Ginny Weasley attempting to drag the large grim out of the hall by the scruff of his neck. The dog knew well enough it would be best to not find himself alone with the witch so he was attempting to drag himself away from the girl. Crookshanks had abandoned his friend and was cuddled in the lap on Mr. Longbottom. Clearing his throat, the headmaster smiles as both girl and dog freeze. "Forgive me for interrupting Ms Weasley, but I find myself in need of borrowing dear Shadow for a nice brisk walk. I hope you won't mind."
Ginny blushes and releases the dog, for the first time realizing they were still in the Great Hall. "Of course not, sir."
"Wonderful." Albus replies clapping his hands together. "Now then, perhaps you'd best head to class." The headmaster states as he sweeps past the redheaded siblings. "Come along Shadow, we've got a busy day planned." The dog huffs before carefully side-stepping Ginny and following after the old wizard.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Please review. So what do you think? Should I write Dumbledore talking to the Minister about Sirius or should I just skip it and hint at it later? Also, I thought Ginny's reaction was priceless, it's not every day you find out your teenage friend is sleeping with your boyfriend's godfather.