CHAPTER 2

I've just seen Sirius Black. I've just seen Sirius Black. I've just seen Sirius Black, was all she could think as she raced through the corridors. But she hadn't seen Sirius as she knew him, as she remembered him from her fifth year at Hogwarts. She saw a young, handsome, carefree version of Sirius Black. Upon the realization of what this meant, Hermione had fled. She bumped into a pack of younger students, shoving her way through them blindly as she ran to the Headmistress's office. She arrived at the gargoyle that marked the entrance, but as she didn't know the password, she was frozen to the spot. She shifted uncomfortably, pacing the floor, waiting for someone to let her in. Perhaps this is just a nightmare, she insisted to herself. Certainly I'll wake up any moment.

But she didn't wake up. She stood in front of the entrance to the office frantically. When she saw a figure approaching her in the halls, she couldn't help but shout.

"I must see Headmistress McGonagall!" she blurted out.

"Headmistress McGonagall? What are you on about?" came the reply from a student she did not recognize.

"Headmistress… Headmaster…" she said, trailing off and feeling panicked strangle her throat.

I suppose Dumbledore is Headmaster, if teenaged Sirius Black is wandering the halls, she thought to herself. How did I get myself into this mess? She was still bewildered as to how she ended up in what was apparently a completely different time than her own. She had merely been trying to go back two hours so she could make her N.E.W.T. level Arithmancy class. How had it gone so wrong? She fumbled for the Time Turner around her neck, one that Headmistress McGonagall had gone to so much trouble to find, and stared at it; the hourglass was drooping lazily from its normal place and had turned to an ugly color of green.

"Headmaster Dumbledore?" prompted the student in a judgmental voice.

"Did I hear my name mentioned?" came a familiar voice from down the hall.

Relief washed over Hermione immediately. She turned to the Dumbledore and was completely speechless. He's alive, she thought to herself. Even twenty years earlier, Dumbledore looked old, but there were some signs of youth. Instead of white, his beard was long and grey. His familiar blue eyes twinkled merrily.

"Ah, Miss Granger," he said serenely, making Hermione's jaw drop in shock. "Thank you for showing our newest classmate the location of my office, Mister Avery."

Hermione turned and looked at the boy with sudden disgust. She knew that name. She wracked her brain to recall more about him, and it hit her: Avery would later in life serve You-Know-Who in the war, and feign innocence by claiming he was under the Imperius curse. But now, Avery was just a student, about her own age. He shrugged and disappeared down the hall, and Hermione turned her gaze to Dumbledore, who was still staring at her calmly. He muttered the password, motioning for her to follow him up to his office.

"Sir, how do you know-"

"Time Travel is an odd thing, Miss Granger," he said. "I received a message from myself from your first year at Hogwart's. It seems that I realized what was inevitable and thought to come back and inform myself of the situation."

Hermione's brain spinning with the paradox of his words, and she opened her mouth to ask questions, but Dumbledore continued on.

"What myself was not able to tell me, however," he continued, peering at her over his half moon spectacles, "is how you managed to come back in time, and from when."

"Near the end of my Seventh year," she answered. "A Time Turner. Professor McGonagall gave it to me to help me prepare for my N.E.W.T.'s And I honestly have no idea how-"

"I know, Miss Granger. I know it was not intentional," he replied calmly.

"Sir, the Time Turner . . . it's all . . . " she said, handing Dumbledore the hourglass that now appeared to be melting slowly.

"Yes, well, apparently you do stay here for quite some time," Dumbledore said.

Hermione's jaw dropped in shock.

"How do you know?" she stammered.

"I told myself," he replied, not looking up at her.

"Well, what am I going to do?" she asked shrilly, wringing her hands furiously in her lap.

"You are going to enjoy your Seventh year at Hogwarts, even if it isn't in the same time to which you are accustomed," he said with a calm chuckle. "I daresay you'll be quite a bit ahead of most of the Seventh years, having already had most of the classes."

Hermione just stared at him, dumbstruck. Surely he wasn't expecting her to become a student? To go to classes with the likes of Avery? With Sirius? And worst of all, with Harry's parents, who'd he'd never had the privilege of meeting, and with Peter Pettigrew, the man who would be destined to betray his friends and cause the deaths of Harry's mother and father?

"Sir, I couldn't possibly . . ." she began.

"Yes, you could, Miss Granger," said Dumbledore with a smile, "because you already have."

"How will I get home?" she asked, suddenly feeling a sting of tears. Her throat began to swell, and her mind drifted to Harry and Ron and Ginny.

"Time Turners can't send you into the future," he said, pressing his fingertips together in front of his face. "A solution will present itself. Until that time, I suggest to get to your Common Room. I will have Professor McGonagall meet you there to explain the . . . unusual circumstances."

Hermione gulped and nodded grimly. She made her way out into the familiar corridors of Hogwarts and toward the Gryffindor Common Room, having no idea what to do or what to expect.

(())

Sirius walked into the Common Room, munching on his apple. He surveyed the room, noticing a few nervous first years by the fire, heads close together. He saw two of the seventh year girls glaring at him from the corner. He'd dated one a few months ago, but it hadn't worked out. Sirius saw James Potter's favorite chair sitting empty, and he glanced around the room to see if Lily Evans was missing as well. He smirked to himself, knowing exactly where the pair of them had likely disappeared to. Finally, he spied Remus, who was helping Peter with an Astronomy essay. Sirius shook his long black hair out of his eyes and sank down next to them.

"Peter, the primary star in Canis Major is Sirius, not Betelgeuse. You'd think you'd get that right, out of anything," Remus said, looking over Peter's shoulder at his essay.

"Hey," he hissed at the two of them. "I just saw a girl in the corridor."

"A girl?" said Remus, placing his hand over his heart in mock surprise. "No!"

"Shut it," said Sirius dismissively. "It was a new girl."

"A new girl?" asked Peter, confused.

Sirius was about to tell them about the strange new girl screaming in the corridor, but the portrait hole swung open. Sirius turned, expecting to see James and Lily returning from their "patrolling duties," which typically meant a snog in a broom closet or two, but it wasn't them. When Professor McGonagall entered, the low hum of voices in the Common Room turned to silence.

"That's her!" he whispered excitedly to his friends. "I just saw her! She screamed at me!"

"What did you do?" asked Remus accusingly.

"Nothing, I swear!" answered Sirius.

"Wonder what she's doing here?" Peter asked aloud.

McGonagall interrupted their conjectures by clearing her throat loudly, though the room was still silent enough that she didn't need to. The girl was hiding behind her, refusing to even look around the Common Room. She looked terrified, eyes glued to the floor. McGonagall stepped aside and pushed the girl bodily into the middle of the room. The girl looked up, scanning the room, and when she locked eyes with him, she blanched and looked away. Sirius cocked his head to one side, like a dog that's just heard a whistle.

"Students! I have a very unusual occurrence to announce. We have a new student in Gryffindor," said McGonagall authoritatively. The room immediately buzzed with voices, and McGonagall had to hold up her hands to silence them before continuing. "This is Hermione Granger, and she is in her Seventh year. She'll be studying at Hogwarts now, so please treat her just the same as you treat the students you've known for years."

He eyed the girl, who appeared scared out of her wits. He could only imagine what it would be like to start at a brand-new school for your last year. He had never heard of anyone transferring to Hogwarts, so this would certainly prove to be most interesting.

"Miss Granger, your dormitories are upstairs. You'll find your things waiting for you there," McGonagall said, and with a reassuring pat on the new girl's shoulder, she left the room.

Sirius watched Hermione Granger, who averted her eyes and refused to look anywhere near his direction. She had a rather thick book in her arms, and she quickly shuffled to the opposite side of the room to open it and start reading.

"You know, Moony, I really think I ought to introduce myself," Sirius said, pulling his fingers through his shaggy black hair.

"Be nice," Remus growled.

"When am I not?" Sirius said with a winning smile, standing and walking over to where the girl was sitting.

"Miss Granger, I presume?" he said, looking down at her with a grin.

She jumped, dropping her book to the floor, and began trembling nervously. She couldn't even meet his eyes.

"I know you're nervous, it being your first day and all, but really, this isn't necessary. I won't bite," said Sirius, reaching down to pick up her book and smiling broadly at her while resolutely ignoring the glares he was receiving from the two seventh year girls.

Hermione stared at him, and he could swear there were tears forming at the corners of her eyes. She let out a soft, "Oh!" and quickly grabbed her book and darted up the stairs to her dormitory. Sirius was left standing alone, completely surprised by her behavior. He looked over at Remus and Peter, who were sniggering. He shook his head and collapsed next to them.

"A bit mental, that one," he mumbled.

(())

Hermione was choking on sobs, gripping the scarlet blanket draped across her bed and using it to dry the tears that were pouring down her face. She couldn't stand to see him. She had known him, felt his hands on her waist as they rode Buckbeak to safety, walked through Hogsmeade with the shaggy dog trotting alongside, seen Harry's stricken face after Sirius had fallen through the Veil. Her shoulders trembled violently as she cried. She had never had a chance to properly grieve for Sirius, and for Dumbledore, and now she had been thrown into a world where they were both alive and well, having no idea the fate that awaited them.

The door creaked open and Hermione tried desperately to contain her sobs, but failed miserably.

"Oh, goodness," said a soothing voice. "I hope the boys haven't given you too much trouble."

Hermione was about to reply when she saw the figure sit down on her bed. Her mouth hung open. It was Harry's mother. She was beautiful. Long, tumbling locks of red hair fell past her shoulders and her creamy skin was interrupted only by her soft smile and sparkling eyes . . . Harry's eyes.

"I'm Lily Evans," she said. "Head Girl. If those boys have said anything to you-"

"No, no. They haven't. They were quite polite," Hermione said, her breath still coming in hitches. "It's just difficult . . . starting here . . . being around . . ."

"All these new things, I know," said Lily comfortingly, placing a hand on her arm. "Professor McGonagall just told me."

Hermione had a sudden wave of panic. If McGonagall had told Lily about her time travels, then she might have to answer some very uncomfortable questions. Questions about the future, about Harry, about You-Know-Who…

"I can't imagine being a transfer student halfway through seventh year," she continued with a smile, and Hermione felt instant relief. "Don't worry, I'm happy to help. We'll have you up to speed in no time."

"Thanks," Hermione said, her eyes still puffy and her mouth feeling dry.

"No problem," Lily said, standing from the bed. "I'll let you have a bit of time alone. Come on down to the Common Room when you're ready. I'll show you to the Great Hall when it's time for dinner."

Hermione nodded and smiled. I can't believe Lily Potter . . . Lily Evans . . . is going to show me to dinner, she thought, shaking her head. She rolled over on her back and stared up at the curtain that lay across the top of her bed. She couldn't even comprehend what she was being forced to do. After pondering for a while, she decided that she couldn't put it off inevitably, so she stood, smoothed her hair in the mirror (which didn't do very much good), and headed back down the stairs.

She descended the staircase and saw that James had appeared. He was sitting in the same large, cozy armchair that Ron preferred, and Lily was perched on his lap. Lily noticed her coming took to elbowing him.

"I swear, I didn't do anything!" Hermione heard Sirius say to his friends defensively.

"I don't care!" Lily hissed, before turning to Hermione, who was now well within earshot. "Hello, Hermione!"

"Hello," she replied with a forced smile.

"Sit down, I'll introduce you to everyone," Lily said.

There weren't many options for places to sit. It was obvious that the friends had made this area of the Common Room their territory, much like she, Ron, and Harry had in her own time. There was a sliver of room next to Sirius, but Hermione couldn't bring herself to squeeze in next to him. Instead, she found an empty space next to Remus. She sat obligingly and feigned ignorance as she listed off the names off the people she already knew.

"I'm Lily, which you already know," she began, smiling. "And this is my boyfriend, James Potter. He's Head Boy."

James beamed, and Hermione forced herself not to hitch in a breath as she saw her best friend smiling back at her. Harry truly did look just like his dad.

"This is Remus Lupin," Lily continued, gesturing to the lanky teenager sitting next to Hermione.

Remus gave a slight wave. He looked exhausted, and Hermione wondered when the full moon would occur, and if it would be soon.

"This is Peter Pettigrew," said Lily, smiling.

Peter grinned at Hermione, and she felt as though she might be sick. How was she going to handle feigning friendship with this boy, who seemed so innocent and naive now, when she knew what he would do to Harry's family?

"And finally, that one there is Sirius Black," Lily finished.

"We've met," Sirius said, smiling. "Hopefully I won't send you scattering this time."

Hermione chuckled along with everyone else.

"I'm sorry, it's just very stressful starting at a new school," she said.

"Of course," Lily said in a motherly tone. "And I know you probably won't remember any of the names I just told you, so please don't worry about having to ask."

Hermione just smiled. If only you knew, she thought.

Lily stood and announced that it was time to head to the Great Hall for dinner. Hermione obediently followed, watching James wrap his arm around Lily's back and Peter trot to catch up to them. Sirius and Remus were whispering to each other behind her. As she entered the Great Hall, she gazed around. It was shocking, almost, how little things had changed. The large ceiling was still beautifully enchanted to mirror the outside. The torches still blazed along the walls. She settled in at lunch next to Remus and across from Lily and James. Lily was trying to explain to her some key facts about Hogwarts, but James kept interrupting her with stolen touches and light kisses on her cheek.

"Slughorn's a good teacher - stop it, James - but don't let him think too highly of you or he'll make you join the Slug Club," Lily said, and Hermione scrunched up her face in distaste. "And McGonagall - James, I'm serious - is strict but fair, and her classes are great. James, I swear!"

And Lily was distracted by trying to bat away James's flirtatious advances.

"Why I finally agreed to go out with you, I have no idea!" she joked, ruffling his hair.

"Hey!" he cried, gingerly touching his hair as if to make sure it was still perfect.

"He'd rip our arms out if we did that," Remus said with a smile.

"Oh, it's not as if it can get messed up," Lily replied crossly, digging into her vegetable stew.

"Never lies flat, does it?" Hermione said smiling absently, before looking up to realize that they were looking at her with odd expressions. "I had a friend whose hair did the same thing."

They all nodded and Hermione felt her cheeks get hot. She would have to be more careful if she was going to refrain from revealing anything that she knew. Fortunately, the conversation moved on quickly.

"You're sure you don't want to be on the Gryffindor team, Sirius?" James asked, having given up on Lily.

"Absolutely certain," Sirius responded. "I'm not as good as you."

"Well, no one is," James responded arrogantly.

"James," Lily admonished.

"It's true," said James with a shrug.

Lily started in on him about the difference between arrogance and confidence, and Sirius and James both rolled their eyes as though they were very used to Lily's lectures and very not interested in hearing another one. Hermione smiled and enjoyed herself, listening to the friendly banter between the young versions of the people she'd come to be so familiar with in her past, their future. A pang of sadness filled her as she watched Lily talk. How could she do this? How could she pretend she didn't know? She looked at each of them in turn, realizing that each of the five had a sad fate in store. Hermione shook her head. She vowed to simply put all thoughts of the future out of her mind and enjoy her time at Hogwarts until Dumbledore came up with a way for her to travel back to her own time. Harry will be thrilled to learn about what they were like, she thought with happiness.

They traipsed back up to Gryffindor's Common Room and Hermione followed Lily up the stairs into their dormitory, after waiting for a moment while she gave James a lingering goodnight kiss.

"He's quite a pill," said Lily with a smile, "but he managed to win me over somehow."

"He seems wonderful," Hermione replied.

"He is . . . sometimes," Lily giggled. "We've got classes tomorrow. Do you have your schedule?"

Hermione looked at her night table and saw her schedule folded on top of it.

"It's here," she said, handing it to Lily.

"Oh, we've got Charms together first thing. I'll show you where that is," Lily said, scanning her schedule. "You'll be in Potions with all of us, so I can lead you to that one. The boys can walk you to Transfiguration; I didn't score high enough marks to take N.E.W.T. level. We're all taking Defence Against the Dark Arts and Astronomy, but it looks like you'll have to walk to . . . what is it . . . Ancient Runes on your own. You're taking a ton of classes!'

Hermione smiled and nodded shyly.

"Wherever you were before Hogwarts must have been tough," Lily commented. "Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures are easy, though. We'll have those all together on Friday. And Sirius is the only one who's taking Arithmancy, so he'll be able to show you where that class is held."

"Sounds good," Hermione said, stifling a yawn.

"Oh, I'm sure you're exhausted," Lily said, handing her back her schedule as the rest of their roommates began to pile into the room. Lily chatted easily with them, introducing her to each. Hermione shut her eyes, listening to the girls gossip with each other, unable to believe the hand that fate had dealt her. She dreamt of Harry and everything he would say when she was able to tell him.