DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER!

The Kid and I

Chapter 1

Her body landed harshly on the ground. She stood up shakily and brushed herself off, thrown by the event. She knelt slowly, holding the necklace's jewel in her hand. She rubbed a bit of mud off of it and then watched in horror when the jewel cracked and fell into her lap. More to her horror, the telltale hourglass of a Time Turner was in the circle of gold. Dumbledore had disguised a Time Turner as a necklace, put it in stasis and then charmed it to activate when she touched it.

She grumbled as she wiped her trousers. Out of the darkness of the night, a voice called to her.

"Excuse me, Miss." It was soft and familiar. She looked up and couldn't believe her eyes. Standing in front of her was Albus Dumbledore.

"You…"

"May I ask how you came to be here, Miss? I was taking my usual stroll around the grounds and you suddenly appeared out of nowhere."

"It's you…"

"Yes, my name is Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore."

"You're here. No. You can't be here. You're dead."

"I assure you, Miss, I'm in perfect physical health. Despite what some of my students may say." He laughed lightly. "Are you injured?"

"I think I may be hallucinating, yes."

"May I suggest that I get you to the Hospital Wing, then?"

She followed in a daze and stuttered. "Excuse me, sir? If you're not dead, and I'm not hallucinating…Where am I?"

"You're in the grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

"And…What year is it?"

"It's June 9th 1937."

Hermione stumbled and gasped. "No…No, that can't be right. I was in Professor McGonagall's office."

"Professor McGonagall? I'm aware of a student named Minerva McGonagall but I can assure you, she is not a Professor at this school."

"We were having a drink. Tomorrow's the Final Battle against Voldemort."

"Against who, Miss?"

"Voldemort. Tom Riddle. You don't know him? Isn't he at this school?"

"No, Miss."

"But he was…He was born in 1927."

"Then he'll be starting this year."

"Um…Okay. Look, sir, I just want to go home."

"And where is home?" He asked gently.

"Surrey. England. Earth. 1999."

"You're from the future?"

"Uh…I guess so."

"Pray tell me then, Miss…Have I gone bald?" He joked with a twinkle in his eye.

"I promise, you have a full head and a full face of hair."

"But you said I was dead."

"You are."

"Oh." He seemed put out. "Well, best not know too much about the future. I don't want to spoil the surprise." His eyes held his usual twinkle that she'd missed so much. They finally came to the Hospital Wing and Dumbledore held the door open for her as she stepped in. The room hadn't changed much. It still held the clean air and pleasant smell that it did in the future but there was also a caring feel about the place. Hermione knew why when she saw an elderly maternal woman leave the matron's office and approach them with a smile on her face.

"Hello again, Albus. Your nose looks well."

Dumbledore laughed again. "Yes, the salve you administered has worked wonders. This is Miss-"

"Helen Gray." Hermione interrupted abruptly. She offered the kind woman her hand to shake.

Dumbledore looked at her in an odd way but continued to speak. "Miss Helen Gray. She had a fall outside and believes she may be hallucinating."

"Ahhh. Well dear, come and sit down and I'll look you over." She hurried Hermione to a seat then withdrew her wand and started running diagnosis spells over her. "What kind of hallucinations, dear?"

"Visual and auditory."

"Any fevers?"

"No."

"Stress?"

"Loads. Kind of a busy time at home."

"I see, dear." The tip of her wand glowed white and then faded. "Well, my dear, I see nothing wrong with you whatsoever. You're as fit as a Phoenix."

"Thank you, Miss…"

"Joan Davis. Head nurse here at Hogwarts."

Dumbledore stepped forward and smiled at them both. "Nurse Davis can work miracles. Truly."

"Well thank you for you time, Nurse." Hermione stood up and went to leave.

"Miss Gray." Dumbledore called. He walked over to her when she turned around. "I may not know exactly who you are but you seem to be rather intriguing."

"Thank you, sir."

"So…I would like to offer you a position at this school."

Hermione blinked several times before squeaking, "Pardon?"

"Yes. Our Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Miss Galatea Merrythought, is getting old now and she's requested some time off. Rather than spend a lot of time searching for new applicants, I can't see any problem why Headmaster Dippet wouldn't appoint you as our new teacher. You seem intelligent, competent, responsible…You'd be perfect."

"I…I don't know."

"We could also spend some time trying to determine why you're here as well." He said in a hushed tone. Hermione contemplated. "As well as your own rooms here in the castle, you'd be given a very generous salary, all the resources you need at you fingertips…" Hermione still looked thoughtful. "Miss Granger, how long are we going to pretend that you have not already decided to stay?" His eyes twinkled.

!"!

Hermione was very impressed with her rooms. They were vastly spacious, had a large bedroom, bathroom, living space. Two paintings hid the secret passageways to the staff room and to her classroom. It was perfect. And at sunset, she had a beautiful view of the castle grounds.

She and Dumbledore were walking to the Great Hall for breakfast with the other professors.

"You must know that the school year is to start in a month, Hermione?"

"Yes, I do, Albus. Why?" She asked, her arm looped through his.

"Because I would like you to assist me in bringing the muggleborns into this world. We would go to their homes, explain magic and about Hogwarts, take them to Diagon Alley to shop for their supplies and escort them to Platform 9 and ¾. It only takes a few days and the students tend to like you better after that. And due to your heritage, you would be a wise choice in how to bring the new children into this world." He smiled again

She laughed. "I think I could accompany you, certainly."

"Good. I shall drop off the list of your students to collect and their locations and the letters and run you through procedure."

!"!

"…Then you should probably demonstrate some magic. Maybe levitating something or making something dance. That's usually enjoyable for the children." They shared a small laugh and Hermione perused the list of students. Her breath caught when she saw a name halfway down the list. 'Thomas Riddle Jr'. "Something the matter, dear?"

"No." She looked up and shook her head. "No problem at all."