Eek! First entirely new chapter, hope you all enjoy!

They apparated just outside of the town line and walked the short distance to the Three Broomsticks huddled together. The pub was not quite busy yet since it was still early in the evening, but there were a few familiar faces to greet before the foursome ventured upstairs to the private room.

Professor McGonagall and Hagrid sat at a table in the far off corner. They both smiled at the group and waved them over. "What are you four doing here, so far from home?" McGonagall wondered aloud, "surely you don't think those silly disguises are fooling anyone."

She smiled at her students and studied each face carefully. The charms that the group had conducted were decent, but not enough for her or Hagrid to be deceived.

When McGonagall searched Hermione's face, her smile dropped and she felt her eyes widen in shock. Could it really be?

McGonagall looked as if she had seen a ghost, and Hermione quickly ushered the group upstairs for privacy. "Hagrid, why don't we go upstairs? I'm sure we would all love to catch up before the rest of the guests arrive."

"That sounds perfect. Off we go then," Hagrid stood and ducked his head a bit as he followed Harry, Ron and Ginny upstairs.

Hermione pulled gently on Professor McGonagall's arm, "would it be alright if we spoke for a minute before we joined them?"

The two women sat down at the table and smiled tightly at one another. Hermione did not know how to begin this conversation, but she knew that the professor recognized her. Maybe she had some more information that could aid in Hermione's trip.

McGonagall was the one to speak first, "Has Remus spoken to you?" Hermione nodded in confirmation.

"I'm not supposed to remember you. Dumbledore asked me to remove all the memories that I had of you and store then in my pensive. But I couldn't bear not having at least a few precious thoughts of you to carry me through all the dark times," McGonagall's voice was barely a whisper now, as she wrapped her hands around Hermione's.

Hermione smiled as she remembered what Remus had told her about her cover story, "Do I look enough like her? Your niece?"

McGonagall's sad smile deepened, "Oh yes. You are very much like her, maybe a year or two older then she was to be, back then. But that didn't seem to matter when the actual person you were taking the identity of was already gone. "

"Will you tell me a bit about her?"

"She was brilliant, like you. Had her muggle-born mother's gorgeous yellow hair and my brother's kind eyes. She died with her parents in a horrible riot. But then you appeared, reminding me so much of my Amelia. Dumbledore suggested I adopt you in a way, and protect you from prying eyes. I'm afraid I used you a bit for my own selfish reasons as well; you helped me overcome great depression with losing a part of my family. And when you disappeared I was heartbroken, but the small hope of seeing you again kept me afloat all these years."

With no one else around to question her actions, McGonagall quickly brought Hermione's hands up to her mouth and kissed them gently. "It was very easy to see you as my niece. You are an extraordinary young woman, Hermione. I hope you grow to love me as family as I have always loved you."

Hermione swallowed back tears. McGonagall had always been her favorite professor. She was daring and courageous like any Gryffendor, but McGonagall had always had a broad streak of loyalty and kindness that only a few were privy to see. And the loving person in front of Hermione now, was even more astonishing.

"Now, you must be patient with everything that is about to happen. Here take this," McGonagall quickly removed a bracelet from her own wrist and placed it on Hermione's. She taps the engraving twice and whispers an inaudible spell, "this will help you with my disbelief," she chuckles lightly.

"What is it Professor?"

McGonagall waves the formality of the title away, "Please, Minerva is fine. This is a bracelet that I had given to my sister-in-law when my brother got married. It's been in our family for ages and that is the family crest etched into the gold there." Minerva pointed to the shield with a lion and olive branch engraved into opposite sections with some Latin words along the bottom.

Hermione didn't stop to question any of this interaction, it didn't seem right to waste time with her still wavering belief of the situation. She had enough faith in Remus and Minerva to go along with the current state of affairs until she would understand for herself. Both of their stories were so genuine, it seemed heartless to contradict them anyway.

Minerva quickly finished her drink and lead Hermione upstairs to the private room that Harry had rented for his birthday. It wasn't very large, but it would be sufficient for the few people that had been able to confirm they were available tonight.

Hagrid and Minerva stayed for a few extra minutes before hugging all four of the students and wishing a "Happy Birthday" to Harry. As Minerva hugged Hermione goodbye, she whispered, "Do good and be safe, Amelia." Hermione smiled at the older woman who would soon be her adoptive Aunt.

She was beginning to like her new name.

The party was in full swing when the Weasley Twins finally arrived. They shook everyone's hands as they entered. "Dean! Hello there Katie. Cho, how are you?" It felt like ages before they finally approached the man of the hour.

"Harry!" They said in unison. Fred lifted him off the floor with a bear hug and George ruffled Harry's already messy hair as his feet found the floor again.

Everyone was eating and drinking, appreciating the small amount of "normal" that the party was providing. Hermione broke away from her current group of conversation and took a seat on the window ledge. She set her sights on Harry, Ron and Ginny. Hermione wanted to remember them like this; happy and safe.

Harry took notice of her absence first and scanned the room. He found her looking straight threw himself and the small group around him. This worried him, so he excused himself and walked over to sit with her.

Hermione smiled as he approached and slung his arm around her shoulders. "Having a good birthday Harry?"

"Yes, though I'm a bit concerned with you. I hope my birthday isn't boring you," he gave Hermione a quick squeeze to make sure she understood that he was merely teasing.

"Oh no, of course not! I'm so sorry, got lost in my thoughts." Hermione hung her head a bit before meeting his greens eyes again.

"Will you tell me what's on your mind? Or is it something that will have to wait for another time?" Harry smirked as he took a swig of butterbeer.

Hermione picked the label off her drink as she chuckled. You know me too well. "Sometime soon, Harry. I promise."

The rest of the celebration pasted in a cheerful blur, and soon the night was coming to a close. It was now one in the morning and everyone was becoming a bit sloshed and tired. As another safety precaution, every person left in groups of four or more. Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione were the last crowd to leave. They waved goodnight to Rosemerta as they ventured out into the cool night. Ginny and Harry were supporting each other as they whispered into each other's ears and exchanged tender looks. Hermione had sobered up some and was having some difficulty steering Ron after the affectionate couple a few steps in front of them.

"Ron! Stop trying to wonder away," Hermione attempted to sound stern, but she laughed lightly to herself as she pulled Ron forward to keep up with the others.

"Do you think either of them know how bloody uncomfortable it is to see my best mate cuddling up to my little sister?" Ron asked Hermione as he stumbled over his own feet.

"Well, you have to admit, they are usually more reserved with their public displays of affection. It's Harry's birthday though, and we're leaving soon…" Hermione attempted to reason with Ron as well as herself. She and Ron had tested the waters with a few dates during this summer, but they had mutually agreed that the spark wasn't there and they were much better as friends. Hermione had become a bit despondent when it came to dating now. The impending war did not feel like a relationship nurturing environment to her.

While her inner thoughts and corralling Ron occupied her mind, Hermione had unknowingly allowed her group to wander to the front gate of Hogwarts. The castle looked eerie; it was dark, with only a handful of windows lit and the grounds had a thin layer of fog covering the edge of the grass closest to the Black Lake.

Ron stepped forward and used the ancient, rod iron gate to steady himself so Hermione could take a pause from looking after him. Harry and Ginny tilted their heads together as they took in the scene beyond the gate as well.

"I can't believe you all won't be here next year. Do you think you'll come back to finish your seventh years later?" Ginny's voice was soft and disheartened as she spoke.

Harry snickered to himself, "Not sure about Ron and me, but I know Hermione will have to come back. You know how much she loves tests."

Hermione reached over and playfully slapped Harry's arm; a smile crossed her face regardless, "Excuse me, oh Chosen One. I would like to finish my magical degree if it's alright with you lot."

"Oh yes, Chosen One. Your mudblood sidekick needs all the magical training she can procure. Don't want her inferior skills showing through during a skirmish, now do we." The vile voice dripped of honey and commanded the foursome's attention as they turned to face it. The voice from the center was unrecognizable; all three faces were cowardly hidden behind silver and black Deatheater masks. But the dark eyes looked elated as recognition dawned on their faces; they could not believe their good luck at who they had found wondering the shadowy night streets of Hogsmeade.

"The Golden Trio, I presume? With an extra little follower in tow," the Deatheater to the left spoke in a gruff, manic voice, "should have found some more powerful friends, my dear." The man glanced at Ginny, but did not appear to recognize her with the darkened hair. The Trio immediately pushed Ginny behind themselves; Harry instinctively stepped to the center point.

The last Deatheater, spoke in a high, strained, almost nervous tone, "No protection here anymore, Potter. No Dumbledore around to shelter you from harm." The man's, or possibly boy's, wand hand trembled slightly as he spoke.

Harry's sobering voice was tense as he addressed the Deatheaters through clenched teeth, "That's alright, Dumbledore taught me quite a bit before Snape murdered him for Malfoy."

The woman, who stood directly in front of Harry now, drew her wand and gingerly placed the point of it on Harry's chest. "Be careful little boy. You don't want to irritate me. We just wanted to chat."

"And what, pray tell, would you want to talk about?" asked Hermione. Her voice was clear and authoritative. She hoped to distract the Deatheaters enough for Harry to draw his wand in retaliation.

"I'm sorry dear," the woman appeared to be the ringleader of this small band, "I couldn't quite understand you. I don't speak mudblood." All three of the Deatheaters shifted their attention to Hermione as they all laughed heartily at the appalling joke.

Out of her peripherals, Hermione saw Harry take advantage of the Deatheaters shifted focus as he slowly withdrew his wand from his pocket. But the younger Deatheater was faster than anticipated as he noticed Harry begin to raise his wand, the boy quickly refocused his own wand on Harry.

"FULGRETUM!"

"STUPIFY!"

It was as if the world began to move in slow motion.

As soon as Hermione realized that Harry was a heartbeat too late in his spellcasting, she stepped in front of him and turned to face the spell directly. She saw what looked like purple lightning slowly extend from the boys wand and make contact with herself right below her sternum.

Hermione could feel a searing pain, like she had just been stabbed in the chest by an enormous, hot needle. She also heard the faint cracking sound of her timeturner she still wore under her shirt.

She saw Harry's spell hit the Deatheater directly between the eyes and witnessed him fall backwards and collapse onto the ground. Hermione also observed Ron, "Expelliarmus," the other man. That Deatheater immediately turned on his coattails and ran for the edge of the city. Ginny stepped forward and quickly disarmed the woman in front of her. But this Deatheater did not run. To everyone's surprise the woman smirked and screamed "EXPULSO," throwing the whole group forcefully against the Hogwarts gate.

Hermione slammed her head into the gate and landed in a crumpled heap on the ground, face down. But the pain of the impact was miniscule compared to the scorching trail the purple lightning spell was creating as it spread across her chest and up to her right shoulder. This pain was excruciating and she knew that her body would not be able to remain conscious for much longer. Hermione glanced around at her friends through hot tears. She tried to raise her hand to mutter a spell at the advancing woman, but her arms felt like they were filled with lead and her mouth was too dry to speak.

Hermione saw the woman taking determined, calculated steps toward Harry; she threw her wandless hand back forcefully as she approached the unmoving Boy Who Lived. Hermione reached out her fingers and miraculously clutched her dropped wand, but she was too late.

The darkness was closing in around her. Hermione could do nothing to prevent her unconsciousness. She felt the pit of her stomach flip; it felt like she was being pulled backwards by her gut. And just as she was about to slip away completely, Hermione heard a voice from behind the gate scream.

"EVERTE STATUM!"

Hope you all enjoyed that. Can't wait to finish polishing the next chapter and get that up for you all.

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