Disclaimer: All familiar character's belong to J.K. Rowling

Chapter 7: Open Wounds

Albus Dumbledore's office was as impressive as the office she had visited in her past. Cluttered with interesting instruments, books, comfortable tufted leather chairs and velvet footstools. A window behind him gave him the illusion of standing on air as his office occupied the top of the Griffindor tower. The Scottish highlands stood formidably on the skyline.

Hermione sat on a chair beside Professor Prince as Dumbledore watched her, his half-moon glasses resting on his crooked nose. After the two professors gave her an oath bound by her magic and a strong dose of calming drought, she took a deep breath and opened with the place it all started.

"It began with a boy who grew up in an orphanage. Tom Marvalo Riddle was a halfblood and the heir of Slytherin. He grew up in the muggle word, unaware of the world where he belonged but he knew one thing. He was special. When he entered the wizarding world he took advantage of his newfound power and became a devoted student in the dark arts. In discovering his being a descendent of the infamous Salazar Slytherin he sought the legendary Chamber of Secrets. He succeeded and released the beast in his seventh year. Eventually a girl died. He feared death above all despising his mother for giving him up, her magic up, for love so he despised love too, never having had known it. He thus sought to conquer death. He looked in the darkest of books and found a way of splitting the soul and encasing it in an object binding him to earth. Horcruxes in other words. He sought to split his soul in seven, the most powerful number and succeeded. As he gained power and followers he came across a prophecy that predicted his downfall by a child. He found the child and killed his parents. In seeking his enemy he created him and that night he made an accidental seventh horcrux as he committed the most unspeakable act of evil. The killing curse rebounded and he was thought to have died. Thus the first Wizarding World was over. Fourteen years later he returned to his body with a dark ritual and the assistance of a servant. He summoned the followers that remained free and plotted his second rise to power. He first infiltrated the Ministry of Magic with stealth, then Hogwarts, and a year later he had killed off every member of the Order of the Phoenix, except me. Harry Potter, the boy who lived, was second to last. With the saviour of the wizarding world dead and the Order finished he came out victorious."

She sipped the tea to soothe her throat. Dumbledore watched Hermione transform before his very eyes. The scared little girl that had entered his office just minutes ago was gone. Only the dried tears remained showing any trace of her having even existed. A whole other person now sat before him, calmly telling the story of her past. He had never witnessed such a successful severing of suffering and in turn, emotion except... Tom Riddle himself.

"I survived by a chance of fate. They had gathered the last of us in the Astronamy Tower where we were ambushed. Severus Snape was a spy on the other side. His last act was saving me as he changed sides halfway and stunned me so they left me for dead. He was murdered by Riddle himself. As they celebrated they left me. I had gained consciousness once Snape died but played dead. I heard his victory speech and knew with everyone dead there was no point living. I had avoided the tide of grief for so long I feared my soul was lost so I positioned myself at the edge of the tower and welcomed death."

Hermione paused again and smiled at the memory. She had felt at complete peace.

"The next thing I recall is being woken up in the laboratory."

Professor Prince and Dumbledore both appeared dazed as she finished her story and looked up at them both. A substantial time passed before Dumbledore spoke.

"It appears that fate has chosen you to be the saviour of this world. The girl who lived."

Hermione stood up abruptly the china tea cup shattered on the floor.

"Sit down Hermione."

"I watched Harry made to be the embodied cause of light and could do no nothing as he suffered and was hunted and killed for it. He died not a hero, but a failure. His legacy is one of disappointment. I refuse to be the poster girl for another crusade!"

A change came over Hermione then as she spoke honestly, with remorse, sorrow and unrelenting rage. The shadow of a warrior returned, her mouth curled threateningly, her golden eyes ablaze and her hair gave her the look of a lioness poised to kill.

"Then ask yourself Hermione Granger why you have been plotting and scheming for the last week if not to give your life to a better future to the one you have known."

Dumbledore spoke softly but finally and Hermione could not argue.

"I placed that responsibility on myself. It was not the result of some prophecy before my birth."

"This prophecy exists but you are right. Prophecies are unfinished stories. It is the individuals who act that prove the prophecies complete."

"I despise the idea that my actions have been pre-determined."

"Think of it as the prophecy knowing what your actions will be."

"Professor we are dancing around words." Hermione finished the argument bitterly with a wave of her hand and sat down feeling she had lived a hundred years.

"Hermione Granger I place myself in your servitude. You will not fight this battle alone."

Dumbledore now kneeled before her.

"I cannot stand by and allow your past to become a reality. I sense your convictions and I swear to stand by you as you right these wrongs."

Hermione faltered "But what about the thread of time?"

"It is a theory. Your friends lived, your suffering is real but the future is not fixed. This intervention will provide a better future for another dimension. The threads of time fit in a wider scheme, a tapestry if you will." Dumbledore chuckled. "Will you accept my help?"

"Of course." she placed her hand on his shoulder and felt a magic bond them together and shivered.

Professor Prince now stood up and did the same.

"I too place myself in your servitude."

Another bond was made and now Hermione stood with the burden of the world on her frail shoulders.

"Tom Riddle must not be killed before he has committed his crimes." Dumbledore began.

"I agree with you. We must keep a watchful eye on him but for now we have bigger fish to fry."

"Grindelwald." stated Professor Prince.

"Exactly." Hermione frowned. "He will eventually be defeated but since I'm here I might as well kill two birds with one stone."

"I confess I had avoided the confrontation."

"Professor, you are one man. The whole British public have avoided the confrontation." She offered kindly. "But now Grindelwald has made the first move we have to act."

The professors looked at her sensing the resolve in her tone.

"I believe we have a secret society to form."

Hermione's head rested on her palm as she yawned widely not bothering to cover her mouth at the dismay of some prissy 6th years beside her. She was picking on her chicken as her mind buzzed with ideas on organizing the Order. The Order had only become effective after the ministry was infiltrated. While Tom Riddle had begun when he was still at school giving them a definite disadvantage. She was sure he had recruited his inner circle already by the sickeningly devoted look on Lestrange's eyes when he spoke with Riddle. She felt a little hopeful with Dumbledore and Professor Prince now on her side. They were equals with experience behind them. Far superior than the likes of Dolohov. She thought of her mentor Severus who trained her in occlumency, manipulation and strategy. He had been vital for getting the Order lasting as long as it did. They needed to begin recruiting specialized agents. Brute force was not enough. They needed Slytherins. Her eye wondered to Abraxas Malfoy who sat with Parkinson and Nott laughing handsomely.

"Earth to Hermione." Xander sat opposite her waving her hands in her face. Hermione blinked.

"What?" she replied bluntly.

"What charming manners we have." Teased Potter who sat on her right.

"Just tired." Hermione yawned again.

"You missed Arithmancy Hermione, are you feeling unwell?" asked Jackie concerned.

"Professor Prince saw I was drifting off so excused me from my next lesson." Hermione lied smoothly. "What do you guys think about Malfoy?"

"Drop dead gorgeous, I know" Scarlett joined them now, kissing her pouting boyfriend. Hermione was now convinced she had an inbuilt detector on the topic of hot boys and sex.

"He's the most unslytherin person I know." Offered Jaqueline more helpfully.

"What about the girls he's sitting with?"

Jaqueline's face dropped as her friends chuckled.

"Jack's nemesis Lysander Nott. They've been competing for the top results since first year. She's a bit of a loner but she's respected for the points she brings in. Druella Rosier is Riddle's sort of girlfriend. Nasty gossip and besotted with Riddle" explained Xander.

"You're not jealous are you?" Potter asked looking thoroughly repulsed. "Malfoy's still a Slytherin."

Hermione rolled her eyes. He reminded her of Harry's irrational animosity with the Slytherins too.

"The world isn't split into Griffindors and Slytherins you know."

"You do fancy him!" Scarlett squealed.

"I'm not going to deny he's an Adonis incarnate but no that's not why I ask. Just trying to get to know my classmates." She explained as the girls nodded and sighed wistfully at her observation while Potter sneered at Malfoy.

Entering Slughorn's classroom she revised the agenda she'd discussed with the professors. Firstly they needed to write their own manifesto and structure the organization so they knew exactly what skills they needed to recruit. She mentally prioritized her personal aims 1) Gain intel on Grindelwald's plans 2) Prevent Riddle from killing his father 3) Prevent the opening of the Chamber 4) Continue her training 5) Begin networking to provide Dumbledore with a list of potential recruits. She shook her head at the mammoth tasks ahead of her.

Malfoy fell into the seat next to her just as Professor Slughorn appeared dramatically in the front of classroom dressed in the most ridiculous clothes Hermione had ever seen. She did not think anyone could have trumped Dumbledore's gaudy fashion sense but here was living proof. He wore maroon robes lined with fox fur, a silk emerald neck tie with a matching turban on his head that clashed terribly with his straw coloured hair. It was evidence of this decade's exuberance that not a single student whispered or pointed to laugh. Slughorn kept his introduction short and sweet letting them get on with finishing the potion they'd started on Monday.

"I saw you running around the quidditch pitch this morning."

"Oh." Hermione wondered where this was going as she began crushing the blood bark in a pewter.

"Do you fly?"

"Hell no!" Hermione grimaced at the thought.

"Wait.. so why were you running?"

The idea of a witch working on her fitness for the sake of fitness was apparently a baffling concept in this day and age.

"Is it so hard to believe that I happen to care about my wellbeing?" She sighed.

"It's just I've never met a girl who was interested in her physique." He began stirring the potion anti-clockwise.

"The reason I ask is because I was hoping you would join me in training on weekends. I normally do it alone because people lack the endurance and commitment but I saw you out there today."

The careful flattery did not go unnoticed by Hermione. So the boy did have a Slytherin in him somewhere. Even though she knew what he was doing she couldn't help but beam at him and then immediately regretted it when Malfoy almost dropped his wand in the potion because of it. She would mention this case to Rosaline to prove her smiles resulted in health hazards

"I'll take that uncharactristic show of warmth as a yes?" Malfoy recovered quickly.

"Watch it Malfoy" growled Hermione.

Malfoy laughed freely and winked at her.

"So how are you finding Hogwarts Miss. Hermione?"

Perfect, an opening to find out about his relationship with Riddle, Rosier and Nott.

"Agreeable."

Malfoy chuckled.

"And the people."

"Apart from the odd dunderhead" Hermione paused to pointedly look at him before continuing "quite pleasant."

She paused to think about who she might call a friend.

"Rosaline has helped me really feel at home." Hermione only realized it as she said it. The woman had somehow wormed her way into her heart.

"Rosaline Blaise?" Malfoy's eyes widened with interest. Hermione nodded in response taking Malfoys wand away from him as the potion turned a sinister shade of maroon. Quite like the shade of Slughorn's robes in fact.

"What about you?"

"The boys in the quidditch team, Alphard-"

Hermione stopped slicing.

"Alphard Black?" Now the conversation was going somewhere. "Griffindor Black?" She stressed.

"Yes." He looked at her warily.

"But you're in Slytherin."

"I hadn't noticed" He commented dryly. "Look. Alphard and I have been friends since we learnt to walk. I'm not letting a stuffed hat dictate who my friends are." He said heatedly.

Hermione looked at him and saw his unwavering loyalty apparent in his eyes and she couldn't help it. She smiled and this time Malfoy smiled back. Suddenly the potion in front of them exploded and Hermione snapped out of it too late. Her face was covered in goop. Malfoy couldn't contain his laughter and though Hermione scowled she warmed to him. This must be the healing Professor Prince was talking about she thought as she vanished the mess with a wave of her wand. The rest of the lesson Malfoy proved to be a wonderful conversationalist not mentioning quidditch once despite the fact that he was the Slytherin's captain. Hermione stopped questioning how this could be the same Abraxas Malfoy of her past, death eater and prime suspect in the suspicious resignation of the first muggleborn Minister of Magic Nobby Leach. She stopped probing him for information on Riddle, Nott and Rosier, genuinely listened to him with interest and found she could simply be.

A.N. Don't you just love Malfoy? Thank you Littleredloser3101 I'm so glad you like her character. Just thought I'd mention it's a rainy Saturday afternoon in London where I'm sitting sipping cold coffee in Caffe Nero :) because I always wondered where people wrote their fanfiction.