A/N This is my first ever fanfic so thank you to everyone who has reviewed/favourited/followed, I had quite a confidence boost! Here's the next chapter, it's a bit longer than the first but is still quite introductory. Long term, I'm still trying to decide whether to put all 7 years at Hogwarts into one long story or spread them out, what do you think? Hope you enjoy this chapter!
"Harry… Ron…" Hermione mumbled as she felt herself slowly coming to her senses. Her eyes felt heavy, and she couldn't find the energy within her to open them. Come to think of it she couldn't find the energy to move at all. She could hear a murmur of voices growing louder in her ears, when a sudden yell snapped her into reality.
"Mum! Dad! Come quickly, she's sick! Help!"
Hermione could make out the silhouette of a boy crouching over her and heard loud, quick footsteps approaching them before her eyes rolled back into her head and she fainted yet again.
...
When Hermione's eyes next opened, she simply felt as though she was waking up from a deep but restless sleep, as though she had been sleeping for years but was still tired. Sitting up and taking in her surroundings for the first time, she let out a shrill cry of surprise when she noticed a woman sitting in a large armchair in the corner of the room. The woman jolted upright suddenly at the sound, her whole body alert and ready. She relaxed when she saw Hermione awake and looking rather frightened.
"Hello, my dear". She spoke with a gentle, kindly voice that immediately calmed Hermione. "How are you feeling? You've been asleep quite some time!"
"I… I think I'm okay… I can't seem to remember much…" Her eyes swept around the room curiously. "I do hate to sound rude, but… if you don't mind me asking… who are you?"
The lady chuckled softly, replying "My dear, of course I don't mind you asking! You must be terribly confused, waking up in a room that you don't recognise with a person you've never met. My name is Dorea Potter. My son found you just outside our house. He noticed you had a wand and appeared to be in some distress, so we brought you inside and contacted Professor Dumbledore immediately. You've been sleeping for almost three days now."
At the mention of the name Dumbledore, a face flashed into Hermione's mind that she half recognised, almost as if it were some memory from a previous life.
"Now if you don't mind me asking, my dear, how did you come by that wand? You appear much too young for it to be your own. You haven't started at Hogwarts yet, surely?"
Hermione's mind was racing. All this talk of wands and Hogwarts was bringing flashes of memories into her mind, though she couldn't quite piece them together.
"This is my wand. I've had it for years. Its vine wood, dragon heartstring, ten-and-three-quarters inches."
The words tumbled out of Hermione's mouth before she could stop, or even comprehend them. A slight frown graced the woman's features before she dispelled it with a smile. Hermione noticed she was rather beautiful, with dark hair and large brown eyes, despite clearly being fairly aged.
"I suppose I should notify Professor Dumbledore of your awakening. He asked to be informed when it would be suitable for him to talk with you. As long as you are feeling up to it of course, my dear?"
Hermione nodded and the woman glided out of the room, closing the door behind her and leaving Hermione to her frantic thoughts. She closed her eyes, trying to focus on some of the images that were racing around her head. She could see many different scenes – a living room and kitchen that shouted 'home' to Hermione – a bright red train on a strange platform, 9¾, surrounded by lively families and children carrying owls and trunks – a looming castle with warm, welcoming lights flickering in the windows – a round dormitory full of giggling girls, decorated red and gold – beautiful scenery surrounding her, green lawns, a great lake, and a forest. But most prevalent of all were the faces of two boys, one with scruffy black hair, bright green eyes, glasses and a lightning scar, the other ginger with freckles, giving her a sheepish grin. And two names – Harry and Ron. As Hermione heard the creak of a door, her eyes snapped open and she gasped. Poking his head around the door of the bedroom was the boy from her memories.
"Harry?!" The boy pulled a confused face.
"No. James" He entered the room properly and Hermione was surprised to feel disappointed as she realised this was not the same boy. He could almost have passed for his twin, if it weren't for the lack of green eyes and glasses. The boy – James – ruffled his hair nervously and Hermione noticed he didn't have a scar either.
"I overheard mum saying you were awake so I thought I'd come and say hello. I don't know if you'll be staying here much longer – they might take you somewhere else."
"Why would they do that?"
"Well I suppose they'll take you back to your parents, won't they?"
"I… I don't know. I can't remember anything, where I came from, who I am, I don't even know who my parents are!"
"It'll come back to you. Dumbledore will help, he's great. Mum and dad are always saying how he's such a good teacher. Well, he's Headmaster now, of course, but you know. What's your name?"
Hermione opened her mouth to reply, before stopping and thinking for a second.
"Ah! Hermione Granger!"
"Took you a minute! Well I suppose they'll look for a pair of Grangers who have lost their daughter then. Shouldn't be too hard."
"I guess you're right."
They were interrupted by the door opening and James' mum reappearing, now holding a tray of food.
"It's just me, my dear. Dum- James! I told you to leave the poor girl alone!" James grinned and winked at Hermione then bolted out of the room yelling a goodbye behind him.
"I'm so sorry my dear, James is such a trouble-maker, I don't know where we went wrong with him!"
"Don't worry, we were just having a pleasant conversation actually."
"Hmph, okay. I just came to say that Dumbledore will be here first thing in the morning, so I suggest you have another rest before then. I imagine he'll be wanting to ask you a few questions, so you should try to regain some energy. Here, I brought you some food, you must be hungry. Eat up, and then go to sleep. I'll come again in the morning."
"Thank you Mrs Potter. I think if I sleep I'll be able to remember a lot more."
"Oh please, my dear, call me Dorea! Or even mum!" She smiled at Hermione again and left the room.
Once again left to her thoughts, Hermione could finally start to make sense of what was going on. She could remember things from her past that can't have happened more than a few years ago, although for some reason it felt like decades. She remembered living a perfectly normal life at home with her parents, despite a few odd moments on her behalf, until one day she received a visit from none other than the man whose face had popped into her head at the mention of the name Dumbledore. She concentrated hard, remembering how it had been broken to her that she was a witch, and was invited to study at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She remembered going to a magical shopping street, Diagon Alley, to buy her school supplies, and reading every book she bought until she knew them off by heart, terrified that she would have a disadvantage at school coming from a non-magic family. Then she remembered meeting two boys who in time became the best friends she had ever known, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, and she remembered all the adventures they had had up until their fifth year, when she recalled the trio and a group of their friends travelling to the Ministry of Magic, to save Harry's godfather Sirius Black, and she remembered all about Lord Voldemort, who had killed Harry's parents, James and Lily Potter… James Potter… the boy… Sudden realisation swept over Hermione. She knew exactly what had happened. She remembered the golden mist, how it had tingled as if she was using a Time-Turner, and how she had woken up and been greeted by none other than James Potter. Hermione had travelled back in time. With a start, Hermione recalled the words Dorea had spoken to her not long ago.
"Now if you don't mind me asking, my dear, how did you come by that wand? You appear much too young for it to be your own. You haven't started at Hogwarts yet, surely?"
Hermione frowned. She had been in her fifth year at Hogwarts, definitely! She was 16 years old! Why in the name of Merlin did Dorea think she was too young to have a wand? Throwing back the covers of the bed, she climbed out, unsteady on her feet, and stumbled over to a mirror on the wall. The reflection that looked back at Hermione caused her to jump back in shock – she hadn't seen this face in years. Five, to be precise - Hermione was looking at her eleven year old self.