Disclaimer: HP is owned by JK. Always.

1989

Chapter 4

Hermione purposely woke up before everyone else in the dormitory in order to quietly prepare for her morning excursion. She wasn't ready to meet the other girls yet; not when they would no doubt have an entire arsenal of personal questions to ask her. It was going to be difficult to keep a low profile when everyone would want to know why she had transferred schools so late in her academic career.

As she made her way down to the common room, beaded bag in hand, she felt her stomach rumble. It wasn't surprising, as she hadn't eaten much over the past several months, and absolutely nothing since Bill and Fluer's the morning before. As much as she wanted breakfast, she also felt that going down to the great hall would be a huge mistake, no matter how early.

Speaking of Bill, It turned out his younger brother was already awake himself, and waiting for her by the fireplace. Charlie had obviously assumed that they would go to Dumbledore's office together. There wasn't much light coming in through the windows yet, so the crackling fire was still the main light source. It illuminated his handsome face, and the hint of stubble that was starting to grow on his chin.

"Are you all ready to go Jean?" He asked as he finally spotted her, a cheerful grin spreading across his lips.

"Quite." She responded shortly, still wanting to keep him at a distance.

As far as time travel was concerned, she honestly felt quite rested and ready for the day. Last night had honestly been the best night's sleep she'd had in months. If it hadn't been for the need to escape the awkward first meeting of the roommates she would have slept in much later. As she approached him she suddenly noticed he was holding a small bowl filled with lots of different fruit. Her stomach immediately began to rumble loudly again.

He chuckled and held the bowl out to her. "I thought so."

Hermione tilted her head to the side in confusion as she looked at him.

"You weren't at the feast last night so I figured you'd be starving by now." He explained. "And I also figured, based on how evasive you were about your personal life last night, that you would be up early to sneak out without the other girls seeing you. I also doubted you'd go down to the Great Hall for breakfast so you could avoid everyone's interested stares, so I brought breakfast to you. You're welcome."

She took the bowl eagerly and grabbed a raspberry out of it; popping it into her mouth with a hum of approval. He definitely had her pegged.

"How'd I do?" He asked with another grin. "Am I three for three?"

She couldn't help but return his grin; damn it if he was charming. Not to mention observant. 'Why couldn't Ron have gotten some of those qualities?'

"Yes. Curse you and your keen sense of observation Charlie Weasley."

"Only when I find the subject interesting." He responded, flashing his teeth at her in another charming and flirtatious grin.

Hermione swallowed as a blush spread across her cheeks. She wasn't used to guys openly hitting on her, and the fact that it was her long time friend/crush's older brother only made her feel more uncomfortable.

"Well if you want to avoid people asking about your lack of wand we should probably head out now." He suggested. "That's why I got you a bowl of finger foods; figured it would be easier to carry and you could eat on the way."

"What about you?" She asked curiously, as she crammed another piece of fruit, a grape this time, into her mouth. This was the freshest produce she'd had in months and she was trying not to stuff her face in a very Ron like manner. "Aren't you hungry?"

"I have five brother's and a sister. I learned to eat fast. Especially before my youngest brother could get to it." He chuckled at his own joke. "So, yeah, I already ate before coming back up here. Thanks though."

"Figures. That sounds like him." She scoffed before she realized how peculiar it would sound. Maybe she was still more tired than she thought.

Charlie glared at her the same way he had the night before when she'd turned the direction of the common room before him. As if he suspected something wasn't quite right about her presence here.

"Are you ready to head to Dumbledore's?" She pivoted towards the portrait hole, and away from view so he wouldn't see her incriminating face. "I'd like to get out of here before anyone else sees me."

"Yeah." He said, still giving her a strange look. "Sure, Jean."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

An hour later they had made it to Ollivander's. Hermione had finished the entire bowl of fruit and also had to remind herself to vanish it before the temptation of licking it clean could take over. It had been way too long since she had been able to eat as much as she wanted. She couldn't wait for lunch in the Great Hall so she could pig out to her heart's content. She had really missed the House Elves cooking, though felt horrible for those thoughts as she still hated the idea of their slavery.

They had walked mainly in silence due to the fact that she had kept her mouth full the entire time. But as they reached the ancient shop, Charlie still held the door open for her so she could enter first.

"Miss Walters, and Mr. Weasley I presume?" Ollivander asked as he approached them.

They both nodded.

"Yes, well I don't get many customers this early in September as you can imagine, so I assumed you would be the couple Dumbledore warned me about."

Charlie smirked and crossed his arms "He said couple, did you hear?" He nudged her shoulder with his elbow in teasing.

Hermione rolled her eyes and pushed him away with both hands. He stumbled as she pretended to ignore him.

"So Professor Dumbledore must have also warned you about my special requirements for a new one?" Hermione asked, hoping she wouldn't have to explain even a hint of anything in front of Charlie.

"He did." Ollivander confirmed. "I have all of the particular rainy day variety already ready for your testing."

"Wonderful." She breathed a sigh of relief that he hadn't let anything slip in front of her companion.

Ollivander turned to Charlie, looking at the wand he was carrying. "And what about you? I don't believe I've ever sold you a wand before."

"No sir." Charlie shook his head. "This is an old family wand. It belonged to my uncle; Gideon Prewett."

Hermione took a look at the wand he was holding, having not noticed it the night before. To her surprise she recognized it at once; it was the wand Ron had used first and second year. She remembered him saying it had been Charlie's old wand, and she briefly wondered when and where he would eventually get his new one.

"Ah, yes. Sorry for the loss, though he died a great hero. I sold him this just over thirty-two years ago. I remember it well. Twelve inches, ash, and unicorn hair." Ollivander informed them, remembering it fondly. "Great wand, great wand. Though I do recommend letting the wand pick the wizard, as another person's wand never quite works as well as one that has chosen you."

"Yes of course." Charlie answered politely. "I've been saving up to buy one once I graduate next summer."

"Excellent. Excellent." Ollivander seemed to like to say things twice. "Now Miss Walters, let's get you all set up with a new wand why don't we."

He escorted them over to a stack of wand boxes on a small table and grabbed the topmost one. "Try this. thirteen inches, oak, phoenix tail feather."

Hermione's fingers barely brushed it before Ollivander had grabbed it, reboxed it, and opened a new one. "Twelve and a half inches, walnut, phoenix tail feather."

One by one the wands deemed her unworthy until he came to the seventh box of the day.

"Ten and three quarter inches, vine wood, dragon heartstring core." Ollivander held it out to her hurriedly.

Hermione was just about to touch her fingers to it out of habit before she jerked her hand back as if it had been burned. "No!"

"What is it?" Ollivander asked curiously. Charlie who had been looking bored before now suddenly looked up with peaked interest.

"Is this a duplicate wand?" She had to make sure.

"No my dear." He answered with a raised eyebrow. "I never duplicate. Not ever."

"I cannot touch that wand sir." She said, though she ached to grab it. It was no doubt her wand. The one that had just been broken by Malfoy the evening before. "I know this sounds crazy, but me touching that wand is going to do a lot more harm than good."

"Worried it will choose you eh?" He asked curiously. "I thought that's what you were here for."

"I am." She answered honestly even though she knew it was a bad idea. "But that wand is destined for a little girl who will start at Hogwarts year after next. If I touch it, and take it, she won't have the wand she needs."

At this point Charlie was staring at her as if she had a third eye. She knew she had already revealed too much in front of him, but had not yet told Ollivander what he needed to know. She had to make sure her future/past self ended up with that wand.

Hermione leaned in to whisper softly so only Ollivander could hear, no matter how hard Charlie strained to listen in. "Promise me you will only sell that wand to an eleven year old girl named Hermione on August, third of 1991."

When she leaned back to look at the old man, she was surprised to see him grinning.

"Of course my dear." He said. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Twenty minutes later they were exiting the shop. Hermione had ended up with a satisfactory replacement wand; eleven and a quarter inches, ash, and dragon heartstring. She wasn't quite as thrilled with it as her old one, but it was wonderful to have a wand that was hers alone again.

"You're really quite strange." Charlie finally spoke up as they walked back to the Leaky Cauldron to floo back to Hogwarts.

"I am aware of that." She replied, unphased by his insult.

"Are you like, really good at divination or something?" He asked, no doubt trying to figure her out.

"Absolutely not." She scoffed. "It's a rubbish subject."

"Well thank Merlin for that opinion." He chuckled relieved. "For a few minutes there I thought you were one of those airheads that seem to flutter around Trelawny's office. I hate it too! Thought I'd die of boredom before I could get out of it after O.W.L. year. It's literally the worst class available at Hogwarts. Even without the fraud of a witch that teaches it here it would still be terrible. I wish I would have taken Ancient Runes or something instead."

"Oh I know." She giggled at his response. "It's the only class I've ever quit before the end of the year because I couldn't stand it anymore."

"Well look at that." He teased as they continued on their path. "We have something in common, a mutual hatred of tea leaves and crystal balls."

"Cheers to that." She agreed.

"Okay so if you hate predicting the future so much, how did you know that wand you refused to touch is supposed to go to some nine year old girl?" He was looking at her with extreme curiosity; no hint of mockery present.

Her smile faded and she bit her lip nervously. "I know that was odd; and I know you want to know why I said those things. But I really really can't tell you Charlie. So can you please drop it?"

He groaned, and for the first time she saw the personality resemblance between Ron and him; they both hated being kept in the dark about things. Especially things that were bound to be interesting.

"I guess I can." Charlie agreed. "If you promise me something in return."

She glared at him apprehensively as they finally arrived back at The Leaky Cauldron. "And what would that be?"

"Gryffindor quidditch tryouts are on Saturday. I'll be running them since I'm the captain." He flashed an arrogant grin. "You should come watch."

Really she should have known that he was a showoff. She'd heard he was a very good player and the only reason he hadn't gone to play for a professional league was because he wanted to play with dragons more. Molly had always said he was the most hot-headed of all her children.

"I'm not much for quidditch." She said shortly; hoping he would just leave her alone after this.

"What?" He looked flabbergasted as they reached the fireplace at the back of the pub. "You are either a very good actress, or you are completely serious."

"I find it barbaric."

He groaned under his breath. "I take it back. We have absolutely nothing in common."

"Good." She responded dryly, hoping once again to deter him from trying to befriend her. "Now you can leave me alone without blackmailing me into watching you show off."

"No, I don't think so." He shook his head while grabbing a handful of grey powder from the mantle. "I'm looking forward to getting to know you Jean Walters."

Her disinterest wasn't deterring him as well as she'd hoped. "I thought you said I was strange."

"Oh you are." He grinned as he stepped into the fireplace. "But I never said it was a bad thing."

And with that, he threw his floo powder down, leaving her both alone in the pub, and baffled by his continued interest in her.