Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters, all rights belong to J.K Rowling and I am not making any money from this story.
Authors note: So happy that people have decided to read this story and I'm so grateful to you all. I know my spellings and the like can be a bit off so bare with me. I will try to make sure this chapter has fewer mistakes but if you see any feel free to tell me so I will know when I write up my next chapter. Thank you lovely people!
Chapter 2: Trust and the sorting
The five students just stood and stared at him, their mouths hanging open in shock. But there old professor stood there still, waiting for someone to speak.
Hermione was the first to straighten her back and regain her composure.
"Professor Dumbledore?"
"That is correct but as you just appeared rather spectacularly out of thin air I think you're going to have to come with me. Would you like to follow me to my office?"
Hermione nodded and exchanged a worried glance with the others. No one knew what to say to him or how he was even here. So they settled on shuffling silently after him.
As they walked Hermione's brain worked in overdrive, trying to figure out what on earth had happened to them and why a young and auburn haired Dumbledore had suddenly appeared.
Expecting Dumbledore to lead them to the head masters headmasters' office, Hermione was shocked to realize that he had in fact led them to the transfiguration office.
She had finally figured it out. It was like a light bulb had been switched on inside her head, she had worked out where they were although how they had come to be there was completely eluding her. Turning her head to her friends she saw that Ron, Draco and Ginny still looked utterly lost but Harry had a look of realization.
Dumbledore took a seat behind his desk and seemed to analyse each of them in turn before speaking.
"So would you be so kind as to explain to my why I just saw you appear in the corridor. I don't believe I have ever seen you here before."
The gulps of the five friends seemed surprisingly loud. Hermione stared desperately at the others, hoping someone would say something but no one did. They all seemed to be waiting for her to make a decision.
Hermione knew this was an extremely delicate situation. But would they ever get back without the help of Dumbledore? The likelihood was that they wouldn't. It came down to one dominate factor. Could Dumbledore be trusted? If anyone could be trusted it was him.
She took a shuddered breath, assuring herself that there was no other way. Then met Harrys eyes for a second, he nodded his head obviously having reached the same conclusion. Past or future Dumbledore could be trusted to take the appropriate action.
"Professor, I'm not quite sure how to communicate this. And it will sound rather... odd but I need you to believe us. I'm just going to have to be blunt-"
"As if you're not always," besides her Draco smirked.
Hermione paused to narrow her eyes at him, and then continued.
"Based on all the evidence presented to me I think were... from the future."
Ron and Ginny eyes widened considerably but Draco didn't look too surprised.
"I see. What year are you from?"
Hermione was shocked that he didn't seem at all surprised; in fact he looked perfectly at ease.
"The 23rd of February 1998."
"And how exactly did you come to be here?"
Hermione took a deep calming breath, he actually believed them.
Ginny was the one to answer him, she seemed to have regained her usual confidence.
"There was a really weird door; it just appeared out of nowhere."
She looked at the others for help.
"We were curious. It felt like I was being pulled towards it. So we opened the door and it was like a sudden hurricane and we were spinning. Then we woke up here." Hermione finished for her.
Dumbledore seemed very intrigued now; he leaned towards them, resting his head on his long fingers.
"I've never heard of such a means of time travel. Whatever transported you here must have phenomenal power. But how are you so sure you did travel in time?"
"You look really young here."
"We've met before?"
Hermione silently cursed Ron for revealing their connection to Dumbledore in the future. But before she had a chance to scold him Draco decided to say something.
"What year are we actually in?"
Hermione noticed he wasn't able to look Dumbledore in the eye. He was probably thinking back to Hogwarts and what had happened during their sixth year.
"The date of today is the 1st of September 1944 and it is 11.30am if you really want to know."
"But how are we meant to get back to 1998."
The five looked at Dumbledore expectantly, waiting for him to solve their problem.
"Alas, I don't know... But I have a suggestion. While I search for a way to get you back to 1998 you will attend Hogwarts as transfer students."
"But what do we tell people professor?"
But Hermione answered Ginny before Dumbledore could.
"We could tell the other students we used to attend Beauxbatons."
Dumbledore nodded his approval.
"Do you know any French?"
Hermione reeled of three lines of fluent French, while the others stared at her their mouths hanging open.
Dumbledore smiled at her.
"I will suggest that you spend the remainder of the day polishing your story to perfection in case anybody asks in detail."
Then he turned to the others.
"I take it the rest of you do not know any. Well no matter I'm sure this brilliant you lady will assist you. What are your names?"
"I'm Hermione Granger, they're Ginny and Ron Weasley, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy."
"Many names I am familiar with. Members of the Potter, Weasley and Malfoy family attend Hogwarts."
Harry, Ron and Ginny all looked excited at being able to meet there ancestors, Draco however looked unsure.
"However no Grangers attend."
"No sir they wouldn't. I'm a muggle born you see."
"Then Miss Granger you get to keep your name. The four of you however have to change yours."
"Ron and I can be Weatherby," Ginny smiled.
"I'll be Evans," Harry said at once.
Then everyone in the room turned to Draco.
"I suppose I could be... Miran," Draco said huffily.
Hermione raised an eyebrow at him and he smirked slightly.
"Well, I will go and speak with headmaster Dippet and when the other students arrive you shall be sorted into your houses, with the first years."
"But sir we already have houses."
"Then you will most likely be sorted into the same houses Mr Evans."
...
In a small chamber off the great hall the five friends waited for the students that had just arrived to take their seats. They had spent the remainder of the day exploring the school, which had turned out to be exactly the same and where now waiting for the students to settle before joining the first years to be sorted.
"I can't believe were back in 1944," said Ginny, her head resting on Harrys shoulder.
"We just have to blend in until Dumbledore can find us a way out of here..."
"And hope we've still been born when we get back," Draco finished for her.
Hermione frowned at him before turning to the door. The hall had quietened and the sorting hat had finished its song.
Opening the door quietly the five stood on the edge of the hall, seemingly not having yet been noticed.
"Pauline Finnigan."
"Ravenclaw."
"William Brown."
"Hufflepuff."
The five watched the ceremony in silence.
When it had ended, a short balding man got to his feat. Hermione recognised him as headmaster Dippet.
"Now before we begin, we have five transfer students here for their sixth or seventh year who also need to be sorted."
The five walked towards professor Dumbledore, who was holding the sorting hat and smiling at them. He seemed to have convinced Dippet scarily easy that they were transfers and conjured the paperwork out of know where.
Harry was the first to be sorted; the hat seemed to ponder for about thirty seconds before shouting, "Gryffindor."
"Ron Weatherby."
"Gryffindor."
"Ginny Weatherby."
"Gryffindor."
"Draco Miran."
Unlike the first time Draco had been sorted the hat took a minute to consider but in the end shouted, "Slytherin."
Draco smirked at her and Hermione had to suppress the urge to laugh. Draco may have changed a lot but he was still a Slytherin.
"Hermione Granger."
Hermione walked up to the hat confidently, she was only going to be sorted into Gryffindor again. As soon as the hat was put on her head she heard its familiar voice.
"Well, well another time traveller, how interesting."
Hermione's eyes widened a little and her heart rate increased.
"Not to worry Miss Granger, now let's see. Last time I sorted you into Gryffindor. A lot of bravery and a brilliant mind I see."
Hermione had heard the hat have this debate before between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw.
"And so very cunning," the hat added.
Hermione tensed. The hat hadn't said that the last time she had been sorted.
"And the most ambitious mind I've seen in a long time. Maybe I should reconsider where I originally put you."
Hermione began to panic. Was the hat really thinking what she thought it was thinking? She may have changed over the years but she still considered herself a Gryffindor. Besides she was a muggle born. There was no way this could be happening.
But before she could protest the hat yelled, "Slytherin."