Author's Note: At this rate, I'm going to condense sixteen chapters into about five...but I think it works better like that, anyway. Let me know if you see anything that looks silly; I'm kinda tired.
"You doing alright?" asked Elizabeth upon sitting down across from Hermione.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she answered. "I've been talking to June, Penelope, and Margaret. They're quite nice."
"Who, these fifth years?" asked Elizabeth dismissively. "They're nobody." The three younger girls looked offended at this comment, but were too afraid of the Slytherin prefect to say anything.
Hermione wanted desperately to say something, to stand up for the girls, but she resisted the urge, knowing that it would put her position as a Slytherin into serious question. Instead, she said nothing, hoping that Elizabeth would interpret her silence as agreement.
Elizabeth gave the fifth years a threatening look, and they quickly got up and left, while Hermione merely looked at them encouragingly, and with slight sympathy, as they exited.
"So, Elizabeth, tell me about Hogwarts. I'm afraid I don't know anything about it, really," she admitted, causing a slightly ashamed look to appear on her face.
"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was founded more than a thousand years ago," she explained, "by four of the most powerful witches and wizards of the time: Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw, Godric Gryffindor, and Helga Hufflepuff." Hermione, of course, already knew that; she had memorized Hogwarts: A History and besides, it was fairly common knowledge. However, as far as Elizabeth was aware she didn't know any of this, so she listened intently. "The four founders each wanted something different in the students they taught. Salazar wanted only the most cunning and ambitious students; Rowena preferred the most intelligent; Godric only wanted those with bravery, and Helga – she wanted loyalty in her students, but she also took anyone who didn't fit into any of the other houses." That was pretty much what the Sorting Hat said every year. "They had their differences, but since each of them had their own House, they got along well enough.
"Then, the other founders ganged up on Salazar. They told him that he couldn't be so open about his pureblooded beliefs, and there were going to be muggleborns at Hogwarts, no matter how many witches and wizards were persecuted by muggles. They forced him out of the school." It was certainly strange for Hermione to hear the tale from a Slytherin's point of view for once; she was used to hearing about how Slytherin got mad and just left, not that the others had forced him out. She wasn't sure which version to believe; as long as she was here, however, she believed exactly what Elizabeth told her. "Since then, students that have been sorted into Slytherin have been generally thought of as being evil, stuck up, and the like. Of course, we tend to act the part, live up to the standards set for us, but we really aren't all that bad.
"That's why I had to kick out those fifth years earlier; I have a reputation to uphold, as a Slytherin." Elizabeth looked at her skeptically. "As do you, I might add. I mean, we can't have someone messing up our image."
Hermione was surprised; she had always assumed that all Slytherins were bad people. She never thought that they acted that way simply because they were expected to. It seemed that, if she returned from the past, she would have something to think about, at least.
Hermione nodded. "Of course. I would hate to be the undoing of a thousand years' work, after all." She tried to make her voice sound natural, with a bit of a laugh at the end, but wasn't sure if she completely succeeded. Elizabeth didn't say anything about it, though, so she assumed she was still in the clear.
"Good, then. You'll soon discover the power associated with being a Slytherin, I'm sure. You've already had your first demonstration; did you see the way those girls just ran out of here earlier?" she laughed. "And I'm not even the most respected. Of course, it may take a little longer for you; you're just coming here. Still, the green and silver has a certain effect on others…" she trailed off, leaving Hermione with no doubt that green and silver effected those who didn't wear it, and that the effect was one she would enjoy thoroughly.
The two Slytherins sat and talked for a while. Elizabeth explained pretty much the entirety of Hogwarts: the classes, the professors, the students, everything that Hermione would need to know to make for a smooth transition. Hermione just listened, and asked questions whenever there was a lull in the conversation; if Elizabeth stopped talking, she might start asking questions, which wouldn't have been good. It seemed to Hermione that Elizabeth, also, had memorized Hogwarts: A History, for she knew almost as much as Hermione did (though, to Hermione's relief and satisfaction, Elizabeth lacked knowledge in a few key subjects – such as Gryffindor Tower).
Finally, Elizabeth announced that they would be arriving any minute, so they changed into their robes – Hermione getting her first taste of the green and silver that, according to Elizabeth, guaranteed her some amount of power and influence. The train stopped and they departed, Hermione following Elizabeth out into the night. Hermione inwardly sighed; she was glad to be home, even if she was fifty-some years early.
For a brief moment, Hermione was afraid that she was going to have to go across the lake with the first years; she realized, after a moment, that she had already been sorted, which was the entire point of going across the lake.
Then, Hermione wondered if her presence was going to be announced by Headmaster Dippet. Probably not, she thought. That would draw far too much attention to me, and I'm trying to stay as low-profile as I can.
She followed Elizabeth into a carriage that was only slightly less than full, though she noticed that the robes all had the green serpent insignia of Slytherin House. Feeling out of place for more than one reason, Hermione tried to join in the conversation, introducing herself as a transfer from 'Tarnley', a school Professor Dumbledore had invented to avoid certain questions from being asked. Her fellow Slytherins seemed only slightly interested in her, and she was grateful that they chose to ask very few questions.
She was surprised to see that the carriages were not being moved by thestrals, which had been visible to her since she had witnessed the death of so many people. They seemed to move completely on their own; Hermione assumed that they had been charmed to take the students to Hogwarts, because, for some reason, there weren't any trained thestrals on the grounds.
Hermione was thinking about the people she'd left behind and about what she had to do. She had no idea how she was going to change anything more than the memories of a few students and teachers. She was supposed to change history itself, make sure the prophecy need not exist.
She had only known about the prophecy after Harry's death; he had not told anyone about it, except in a letter he wrote the summer after his fifth year, which he had given to Dumbledore with instructions to give it to Ron and Hermione, only to be opened if he died. It was one of the first signs of Harry's newfound state of being; he had become obsessed with death. He planned for his own death, worried about that of his friends, and was determined to bring it about in Lord Voldemort. He hid it well, though, and few noticed. Hermione and Ron had only perceived a slight change, nothing anywhere near as drastic as what had actually happened. She thought about the letter:
To: Ronald Bilius Weasley & Hermione Jane Granger
If you are reading this letter, it means that I've died. Unless Voldemort is dead by now, as well, he will never be defeated. There was a prophecy given before my birth, the record of which was accidentally destroyed in the Department of Mysteries by Neville Longbottom. You know that much. You assumed that the prophecy could never be heard, and I never corrected you.
"the one with the power to vanquish the dark lord approaches… born to those who have thrice defied him, BORN AS the seventh month dies… and the dark lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the dark lord knows not… and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives… the one with the power to vanquish the dark lord will be born as the seventh month dies…"
That is the prophecy Sybil Trelawney gave to Albus Dumbledore. I heard it for the first time in Headmaster Dumbledore's office shortly after the battle in the Department of Mysteries, and many times after in my mind. It says that I am the only one who can destroy the Dark Lord, that we are the only way the other can die. If I'm dead, it means that he's finally killed me, and that now, he can never be defeated. I'm sorry…
Harry James Potter
She tried not to cry as she thought about Harry. She had to do something to make the prophecy untrue. What she could possibly do was beyond her. For the time being, she had to try to get used to living in the world of 1943 and wait for inspiration to strike.
The carriage stopped, and she didn't notice at first. Her stream of thought was broken by Elizabeth calling her name. It took her a moment to realize that 'Jane' was her new name. She apologized for not paying attention, feigning embarrassment, and explained that she had been caught up in the majesty of Hogwarts. Elizabeth smiled and nodded her head in agreement that Hogwarts was beautiful, and led Hermione up to the castle.
In all, Hermione thought she had been pretty lucky. Everybody believed her story, for one. No one, as far as she could tell, was even remotely suspicious of where she came from. She had even managed to find someone she thought she could call a friend. Granted, she was still 54 years ahead of her time, but there was no way of getting around that.
Her biggest fear at that point was that someone would ask a question she wasn't prepared to answer, because if she messed up, there would be no other chance. It was dangerous enough, Dumbledore had told her, to play with time once; more than one try was too risky, no matter what could be accomplished.
She forced herself to act like a first year upon first entering the castle; she looked around, captivated by the aura of it all, in much the same way she had six years before (and 48 years later). The castle seemed to be almost unchanged from her time. There were a few different portraits hanging on the walls, and the suits of armor looked 50 years younger. Apart from that, she could easily believe that it was the year 1997.
She let Elizabeth lead her to the Great Hall, though she knew exactly where it was. She pretended to listen intently to Elizabeth's commentary on the castle, looking around spellbound and occasionally saying a word or two, until they arrived at the Great Hall. It took more self-control than Hermione thought she had to not sit down at the Gryffindor table. Instead, she allowed Elizabeth to steer her to the Slytherin table.
"Thank you, Elizabeth," she said. "Hogwarts is much larger than Tarnley, I'm sure I would have gotten lost."
"It's alright," replied Elizabeth. "Hogwarts is pretty big – intimidating, even, to someone who's not used to it."
Hermione nodded in agreement. "I suppose I'll get used to it eventually," she said, though she sounded uncertain.
"You will, just watch. I'll make sure of it!" The two girls laughed. Hermione was glad she found a friend. Her first time at Hogwarts, it had taken almost getting killed by a troll; all she had to do this time was fall down. "The feast will start in a while," Elizabeth explained once they had stopped laughing. "The first years have to cross the lake – tradition – and then they get sorted. It's simple enough. Then, the headmaster stands up and announces the beginning of the feast. After everyone's done eating, he'll give a speech – just reminding people of the rules, announcing any new staff appointments, that kind of stuff. Everyone claps, blah blah blah, then we go to bed. Prefects have to lead the first years to the dorms, so just stick with me, alright?"
Hermione nodded; she had never realized how long it took to explain the schedule for the Start-of-Term Feast. She would, at least, have to pay attention when Elizabeth lead her to the Slytherin common room – she had no idea where it was, except that it was somewhere in the dungeons.
She turned to the table to look at her new classmates. She was surprised to see Tom Riddle sitting across from Elizabeth, and even more surprised to see that he was looking at her.
"Hello. I'm Tom – Tom Riddle. I believe I met you earlier, on the train, but I don't believe I properly introduced myself. There was a Prefect's meeting and I was a bit preoccupied. Sorry."
"Don't worry about it. I was a bit preoccupied, myself. I'm Jane Levvens."
"Welcome to -"
At that point they had to stop talking, because Professor Dumbledore had set a stool in front of a line of nervous-looking first years. He then set a tattered old wizard's hat on top of it, and said, "When I call your name, sit on the stool and put the Sorting Hat on your head. Once you are sorted, go sit with your house.
"Ackleman, Albert," he read, a few seconds before a brown-haired boy walked over to the cheering Ravenclaw table. There are a lot of first years, Hermione thought. "Ackleman, Allison." A similar-looking girl joined him. A lot of first years.
Though the dizzying trip through time had gotten rid of Hermione's appetite entirely for most of the day, by the time "Zinple, Zachary" joined the Gryffindors her stomach was growling. There was something about sitting at a large, empty table that settled her stomach and made it impossible to focus on the Sorting.
Finally, Headmaster Dippet stood up. "Eat!" he said, and food appeared even while Hermione was thinking that he lacked the particular flair of Dumbledore.
After a few minutes of almost Ron-like eating, Hermione's appetite was sufficiently curbed so that she could resume her usual eating pattern. She looked up from her plate and saw Tom Riddle looking at her again, this time with an amused look on his face.
"As I was saying earlier," he continued, still grinning slightly, "welcome to Slytherin. I saw your grades from your previous school – Tarnley, was it – and I'm sure you'll maintain such high standards.
"Of course, the classes at Hogwarts are quite advanced. If you need help in any subject, don't hesitate to ask." Hermione couldn't believe it; was Tom Riddle flirting with her?
"I'm sure I'll be fine," she answered, containing the laughter that was trying to escape her lips. It was a completely absurd situation, and one that she had honestly never imagined. "But if I need help, I'll be sure to ask." She turned her face back down to her plate and continued eating, though at her usual pace, and didn't look up until the plates cleared. What have I gotten myself into? she asked herself. Flirting with Lord Voldemort? I must be insane…
"Now that you have all eaten your fill, I have a few announcements. First, first years – and older students – should note that the Forbidden Forest is, still, forbidden. Also, for the first time in five years, there are no new staff appointments." Dippet went on in a rather lackadaisical manner that didn't hold Hermione's attention. She was thinking, and she had a habit of blocking things out when she was concentrating.
She was brought out of her stupor by the sudden movement of a room full of people rising from their seats. "Jane," Elizabeth said in a tone that made Hermione think she had said it several times already.
"Sorry," she apologized, and followed Elizabeth out of the Great Hall and though a maze of dungeons that led to the Slytherin common room.
As she was following Elizabeth, Hermione vaguely thought that she would never be able to find the place again. Exhausted from the events of the day, she collapsed into her bed when Elizabeth showed her where it was, and was asleep within minutes, barely hearing Elizabeth promise to wake her up the next morning and show her back to the Great Hall.