Chapter 6

Hermione found she sitting in a white office staring at a glass orb, anyone who knew Hermione granger knew that she didn't believe in Divination, the idea of it was complete hokum, of course knowing what she knows now; the idea Divination wasn't such a hokum subject after all.

But of course the glass orb that she was starring into wasn't to see the future, it was to see the past, her past and how it was being changed for the better, it took a lot for Hermione to accept that but given the last conversation she had, no one could really blame her.

Flashback

"Tell me Miss Granger, are you and Mr. Potter trying to get me fired?" Meredith said rubbing the bridge of her nose, Hermione was still confused.

"What are you talking about?" She asked, Meredith sighed.

"Ok here's the crash course that I've already explained once, you were not meant to die today, following Harry into that forest was admirable but stupid, that whole final battle was never meant to happen in that way, I can't tell you exactly how it's meant to happen for reasons to be made clear shortly, but Hermione, you were meant to live to a ripe old age with your soul mate, the person who you harboured feelings for but refused to accept them because you didn't believe you were good enough for him" Meredith explained, Hermione lowered her head, of course she knew who she was talking about but that was something Hermione had battled ever since Harry saved her from that troll.

"I'm plain old Hermione, I was never his type" She whispered, Meredith got up from her chair and knelt down in front of Hermione.

"Hermione, for the brightest witch of your age you can be so naive sometimes, Harry didn't need you to be some plastic model of what society dictates is 'pretty' to him you were perfect in your own way, to him you were admirable because you never let yourself conform to the society pressures, you crafted your own path and you inspired others to follow in that path, Hermione to Harry you were the guardian angel that he so desperately wanted but didn't know how to get"

Hermione had tears rolling down her face, "I don't know why you're telling me this now, you said it yourself I'm dead already Bellatrix got her wish, she killed me, it's all moot now" She sighed, Meredith laughed.

"If that were the case I would have sent you on a long time ago, no Hermione nothing is moot, in fact I with the help of some other people have sent something into motion to try and correct the timeline, I sent Harry back to his childhood to try and change what happened over the eighteen years gone by."

Hermione's head shot up, Meredith smiled.

"Yes that got your attention, yes I've altered the time line, in the original scheme of things Harry was never meant to lose his parents, so I have fixed that decoy, Harry has his parents, and from what I've seen so far, he has saved you from bullies, revealed your magic to you and offered you tutoring from his mother, possibly the only other witch brighter than you"

Hermione was bouncing with joy.

"Can you send me back as well?" She asked hopeful, however when she saw Meredith's face she knew she couldn't.

"Oh" She muttered

"Just because I can't send you back Hermione doesn't mean you can't get back, one of the conditions of the contract Harry signed was that the moment he kisses the Hermione in his time when they truly love each other, you will be returned to the mortal realm and your spirit will merge with the Hermione of that time giving you all the memories of both timelines" Meredith explained Hermione jumped up from her seat.

"That's brilliant! But wait... I know Harry better than anyone the only person who could help him notice that would be well... me... how is Harry meant to know when he loves me (of that time) and she loves him?"

"I have been granted seven visits to Harry each will come at a point in his life before something of great importance happens, I'm going to give you a crystal ball which will show you that life, you will be able to see if they love each other, after all who knows you better than yourself?"

End Flashback

So now Hermione was forced to play the waiting game, she had to hope that Harry would be able to break the shell that her younger self had created and allow herself to feel happiness. To feel appreciated. To feel loved.

Harry found himself settling into Ravenclaw nicely, it felt nice to be able to get a decent night sleep without the roar of the monster known as Ron Weasley's snores, thankfully the claw's didn't crowd Harry like some celebrity but rather treated him as an equal, for this Harry felt grateful beyond comprehension.

Thanks to the tutoring of his mum and dad Harry and Hermione were ahead of everyone in the class, of course Harry had an extra advantage but no one needed to know of that... yet anyway.

Dumbledore had made several attempts to try and speak to Harry but each time Harry would send the reply of not being able to attend due to homework and not wanting to fall behind in his school work, but in reality Harry had to make good on the promises he had made Meredith. He made himself a check list;

Basilisk- Due to start second year but needs eradicating now

Stone- need to wait for the mirror of erised to be moved into position

Quirell- Needs to believe everyone is naive to who he is hiding until plan can be formulated.

Hermione- Need my Hermione more now than ever before.

Halloween came all to quickly for Harry, he wasn't going to let the same thing happen again, which meant he had to be on his game, the charms class was where it all began last time, so he had to assume it was going to take place in the same way.

Sure enough the charms class was learning the levitation charm but the class was being taught with Hufflepuff, so Ron couldn't have made his comment. Harry was still on his guard and stuck by Hermione throughout the duration of the day, it was during the last period that things started going wrong. It was potions with Professor Snape; Harry was working with Hermione on their potions when a terrified child knocked on the door of the dungeons, Snape granted him entry who handed him a note.

"Potter, you are to go to the headmaster's office immediately" he sneered, Harry tried to protest but it simply resulted in Snape deducting points, Harry sighed and picked his stuff up, with a squeeze on the shoulder to Hermione he left the classroom.

Harry was escorted by a prefect to the gargoyle, a password a flight of stairs later Harry found himself in the headmaster's office, noticing Fawkes Harry bowed his head to the noble creature who returned the gesture.

"Harry, how good to see you I trust you is enjoying your classes?" Dumbledore asked appearing on top of the stairs inside the office

"Yes sir, I am, what did you wish to speak to me about headmaster?" Harry asked not wanting to spend any more time there than necessary.

"Harry I am going to be honest with you I fear you are not safe in your current location, I think it is prudent then when the school year is over you move in with your aunt and uncle, for your own protection" Dumbledore said in his grandfatherly tone.

"That won't be happening" Harry said instantly.

"Harry I must insist-"This was all he managed before Harry cut him off

"No headmaster I must insist, if you believe that sending me to live with muggles who have made it perfectly clear that they hate magic and who haven't spoken with my parents in over 10 years then I must question your ethical implications. It is almost certain I would ascertain physical and emotional abuse during my stay there, so no professor I will be staying with my mum and dad, two of the most distinguished figures in the wizarding world!"

Dumbledore was taken back and tried to rethink his strategy, but Harry wasn't buying any of it

"Now if you will excuse me headmaster I am going to dinner as I have now missed the remainder of my lesson. Good day sir" with that Harry left the office leaving a stunned Professor Dumbledore in his wake.

Harry ran down to the great hall and hoped Hermione was in there, his heart dropped when he couldn't see her, running to Cho he asked

"Have you seen Hermione?"

"Marietta told me that she is the girl's bathroom, Weasley made some comment to her that reduced her to tears; she won't speak to anyone-"Cho never finished her sentence before Harry bolted out the great hall.

Harry ran as fast as he could to the girls bathroom, he threw the door open

"Hermione!" He called out, Harry heard a small sob.

"Go away please Harry" Hermione whispered through her sobs, Harry chuckled

"Since when I have ever left you alone when you're sad, what did Weasley say to you?" He asked

"He...he called me bookworm... told me that I don't belong in this world and that I should leave it now before I make a fool of myself, I know it's petty but..." Hermione stopped talking through her sobs

"It brought back all the painful memories of your past with Dudley and all those insecurities that you battled all came back into play" Harry finished for her

"Yeah" She replied, Harry sighed

"Do you know the story of Rosa Parks? You probably do but I'll tell you anyone, Rosa Parks was a black woman who refused to follow social protocol, in those days a black woman would be made to give up their seat for a white person on transport, Rosa however didn't, she changed the protocol and with that one action she set into motion one of the biggest equality movements to ever sweep the earth. You're like her in a way, you come from a muggle background but you refuse to be pushed around by people who believe them more important than you, don't let anything Weasley says upset you, it's a miracle words came out of his mouth instead of hot air, don't you think on it, not for one second"

Hermione was quiet for a few seconds before unlocking the door and coming face to face with Harry.

"You really mean that?" Hermione asked, Harry smiled and placed a hand on her cheek

"I would never lie to you Hermione, you're too important to me for me to lie to you"

Harry wasn't sure exactly how much time passed in those few moments, but at Harry finishing his sentence Hermione felt a swirl of courage swell up inside her, moving closer to Harry she softly placed her lips on his.

Harry responded and kissed Hermione back neither of them noticing the glow that was forming around Hermione. Pulling apart from the kiss Harry noticed for the first time that Hermione's eyes seemed to be glowing.

"Hermione?" He asked, the glowing faded and Hermione smiled.

"Hello Mr. Potter, I see that your talk with Meredith paid off after all"

AN: Reviews are always welcome!