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Chapter 4 - The Never-Ending Summer

The next day around lunchtime Hermione made her way back to Dumbledore's office. When she arrived and opened the door she realized that he was not alone. Sitting across from him was a woman in emerald green robes with her black high tied into a bun. She seemed to be in a deep conversation with Dumbledore and Hermione immediately realized she should have knocked. Hermione took a step back to give them privacy when the floorboards creaked. The woman stopped talking turned to look at Hermione and revealed a stern looking face.

"Professor McGonagall?" gasped Hermione. She looked the same yet entirely different. There was still that strict look in her eyes, but her face seemed softer and younger.

Professor McGonagall's eyebrow raised at Hermione's remark and Dumbledore bowed his head giving Hermione a warning look. Hermione cleared her throat and quickly tried to correct herself.

"Sorry, you must be Professor McGonagall. Professor Dumbledore told me I'd be meeting you today," quickly lied Hermione as she walked across the room to shake Professor McGonagall's hand.

"Did he now?" asked McGonagall. She stood up to shake Hermione's hand and sent a quizzical look towards Dumbledore.

"I'm Hermione Dawson," Hermione said with a small smile.

Professor McGonagall looked her up down as if she were trying to figure something out.

"It is very nice to meet you Miss Dawson. I had heard from portraits that we had a student staying here over the summer and I suppose the rumors are true. It is nice to finally be introduced to you. Professor Dumbledore was just telling me that when you arrived the Sorting Hat placed you into Gryffindor?" McGonagall's eyes drifted to the shelf behind Dumbledore's desk.

Hermione's eyes followed McGonagall's and saw the Sorting Hat sitting on the top shelf.

"Ah, yes. I was sorted into Gryffindor," said Hermione, returning her glance back to Professor McGonagall.

At that, Professor McGonagall smiled.

"We need more Gryffindor girls. In case Professor Dumbledore failed to mention it, I'm the Gryffindor Head of House. I am also the Transfiguration professor so you will be seeing a lot of me."

"I look forward to it, professor," smiled Hermione. It was comforting that her favorite professor was here with her in this timeline. Even if she had no idea who Hermione was. If she was going to make it through this, Hermione would have to find as much comfort in the small things as she could.

Dumbledore looked at the two of them with a hint of a smile before speaking again. "As I was telling you, Minerva. Miss Dawson here is an incoming sixth year transferring from Beauxbatons Academy. She is spending the summer here so she can take the O.W.L before term begins. Being that Beauxbaton takes their Ordinary Wizarding Level exams after their sixth year and not fifth."

"That's wonderful," replied McGonagall. She turned to Hermione with a smile. "Which courses will you be taking your examinations for?"

"Well, I plan on taking it for Transfigurations, Charms, Potions, History of Magic, Arithmancy, Herbology, Defence Against Dark Arts, Care of Magical Creatures, Study of Ancient Runes, and Astronomy. Those are the subjects I've been studying.

McGonagall looked taken aback. "All of those courses?"

"Yes, but I'm very certain that I can handle them," said Hermione with confidence.

"I'm sure you can, Miss Dawson" replied McGonagall narrowing her eyes. There was a slight hint of suspicion in them and Hermione swallowed. "Anyway, I must be going now. If you need anything while you stay here do not be hesitant to ask."

"Yes, thank you, Professor."

Professor McGonagall strode towards the door and turned back towards Dumbledore. "Albus," she nodded.

"Have a wonderful day, Minerva," chimed Dumbledore as Professor McGonagall closed the doors behind her.

Hermione waited a moment before sitting down across from Dumbledore. "Do you think she was suspicious, sir?"

"Professor McGonagall is very inquisitive but she is not nosey. She trusts me so there should not be a reason for her to try to find out if you have a secret if she thinks I am in on it," said Dumbledore. "But I do have good news, Miss Granger."

"I could use some good news…" mumbled Hermione.

Dumbledore chuckled, "I was able to get in contact with Mr. Ollivander and he has, in fact, already made your wand. He sent it over this morning."

Dumbledore opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a long box and handed it to Hermione. With wide eyes, she took it and carefully opened the box. Inside was the wand she purchased when she was eleven. It was the first thing that finally made her feel like a witch. The first thing that finally made her feel special.

Hermione reached into the box and gripped her wand firmly in her hand. A warm and powerful feeling spread through her body at its touch and tears came to her eyes.

"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore," sniffled Hermione with a choked laugh. "This really means a lot."

Dumbledore smiled warmly at her.

"I also have another thing here for you," he said while reaching into his desk drawer once again. He pulled out a small brown pouch and placed it on his desk in front of Hermione.

"What's this?" asked Hermione staring at the pouch and then back at Dumbledore.

"It's money for you to use while you are here. This is just a small portion of it."

"Oh no, sir, I can't!" gasped Hermione.

"Please, Hermione," smiled Dumbledore. "It's extra Hogwarts funds that are meant to be spent on students in need. You certainly cannot expect me to let you walk around forever in the same clothes you were found in and one set of robes."

Hermione looked down at the clothes she was wearing and frowned.

"Furthermore, your clothes do not exactly look like they belong in this time. The money is also for books and whatever else you need. I will issue you an allowance once a month to keep you settled and comfortable."

He picked up the pouch of coins and handed it to Hermione who took it tentatively.

"Thank you, sir," muttered Hermione. She felt awful about taking handouts, but there was nothing else she could do. She obviously needed a new set of clothes.

"Now, since you are not technically a student as of yet, you are free to leave Hogwarts Grounds as you please. Hogsmeade is at your disposal. Just remember what I said yesterday. Try not to standout and be careful about what you say to people."

"Yes, Professor Dumbledore. I understand."

"I will not try to bother you for the duration of your stay this summer. You need to both study and relax. You have a lot to adapt to. I will usually be in my office if you need me and I am also here if you just want a familiar face to talk." Dumbledore was smiling warmly at her but there was something strange in his expression. Pity was glistening in his eyes.

"I'll pay you back for the money, sir."

"Nonsense, Miss Granger. Just remember this while you are here; you have the entire castle to yourself. Try not to hide away in the common room. The library is open as well as the locker rooms for the Quidditch pitch, if you so wish. Try to make the best of it."

And Hermione was going to do just that.

~o~

Later that day, Hermione left the castle and started to make her way to Hogsmeade. It was absolutely beautiful out. It wasn't too hot and the sky was clear and blue. As she walked, a warm breeze ruffled through her uncontrollable hair making it messier but she didn't mind. She was alone with her own thoughts while admiring the scenery around Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. The walk was the first time since she left 1996 that she felt at peace.

There didn't seem to be many people about in Hogsmeade. At least not people of Hogwarts age, that is. Hermione held her head up high as she walked through the village and tried her best to try not to stick out. She spent a good portion of the afternoon shopping at Gladrags Wizardwear searching for new clothes and robes to buy. After she was content with what she bought, she went back out to the main rode of Hogsmeade.

She took her time walking up and down the road and looked into the windows of the shops. It was amazing to see how familiar the small town was to her. Her initial thought of Hogsmeade looking the same as it did in her time was spot on.

It wasn't until she passed the Hogshead that a wave of sadness passed through her. Only just a few months ago her, Harry, Ron, and all their other friends had created Dumbledore's Army in that very pub. Her stomach seemed to tighten as she longed to go inside and look around but she remembered Dumbledore's warning: Don't stick out. She'd stick out like sore thumb if she walked in there. Instead, she continued to stroll around Hogsmeade.

After a while of walking around, Hermione went into the Three Broomsticks. Compared to the rest of Hogsmeade, it seemed crowded, but its warm interior was still a comfort to Hermione. She maneuvered though pub and ordered a Butterbeer at the bar and then made her way over to the table that she, Harry, and Ron would usually sit at and she closed her eyes. Memories flooded into her brain of the two boys. It hurt to think about them and how there's a chance she'd never see them again if Dumbledore couldn't figure out how to get her home. Her boys… The only real friends she ever had. Ron's face flashed in her mind and her heart started to ache.

With Harry and Ron on her mind, Hermione grew more determined than ever to figure out what had happened to her. She got up from her table and left the Three Broomsticks and walked up the path and back to the castle.

When she arrived, she ran up the flights of stairs and into the Gryffindor Common Room and dropped her bags off in her dormitory before returning to the Grand Staircase. She made her way to the library and spent the rest of the night painstakingly researching time travel and trying to find something that would give her a shred of hope to let her know that one day, maybe, she'd be able to return home to the people she cared about.

That first night endlessly researching in the library was long but it did not compare to the following weeks. The first month alone at Hogwarts was the loneliest Hermione had ever felt. Before Hogwarts, she never really had many friends and usually spent time by herself, and yet she never felt as utterly alone as she did now. So, she did the only thing she knew to pass the time: Study. Almost all over her free time was spent in the library. Whether she was researching time travel or studying to retake her O.W.L exams, the library was where she was most content.

She met with Dumbledore a few more times over the first month as he introduced her to more professors. It helped that some of her professors were the same as during her time such as Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout, and Professor Binns. Unfortunately, Hermione had a feeling that Professor Binns was probably just as boring twenty years ago as he was in her time.

During the week of her O.W.L retakes, the only thing on her mind was throwing herself into her work. Dumbledore must have had a decent amount of pull with the Ministry because he was able to oversee and administer the O.W.L exams himself. It felt odd not having the Ministry proctors like last time – less official feeling – but there was a slight comfort in the familiarity of Dumbledore being there. Each of her written exams seemed to fly by. It also helped that she was the only one taking the exams. Instead of having to stay and wait for everyone else to finish, she was able to leave as soon as she was done. The practical exams went by just as quickly for that same reason.

The next few weeks dragged on for Hermione. With her exams behind her, she just spent most of her time researching time travel. She had practically spent every second of free time in the library and she had not even read half of the books in the library on the subject. She still wasn't any closer to finding a way home.

A week before term started Hermione received her O.W.L results from Dumbledore. Nine Os and one E for Defence Against the Dark Arts. She'd have to thank Umbridge for that one. But she was pleased nonetheless, and it gave her a small sense of pride to hang on to.

The rest of the week flew by compared to the rest of the summer. The night of August 31st Hermione laid in her four-poster bed, staring at the ceiling. She had no idea what to expect of tomorrow when the students arrived. Her nerves were eating her alive but she felt that there was something else she was feeling. Excitement? Well, whatever it was, it caused her not to be able to sleep.

After a while she grew restless. She pulled herself out of bed and slid her feet into her new slippers, grabbed her robes, and stole out of the common room. It was after midnight and the castle was dark and cold. The torches in the hallways were dimmed and most of the light came from the moonlight shining in through the windows.

She doubted anyone would care if they spotted her out this late and she didn't care if someone did see her. She just wanted to walk around to clear her head, and this may have been the last chance she'd have to freely do so. Technically there wasn't a curfew yet since term hadn't started, so there was nothing anyone could do.

She just walked and walked, alone with her own thoughts, when she realized that she was on the seventh floor near the Room of Requirements. Tears filled her eyes and she smiled thinking of the memories of Dumbledore's Army with all of her friends. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to stop the tears. Thinking of all of them was too painful.

I just want to go home… she thought miserably.

When she opened her eyes a door had appeared on the wall in front of her. Hermione gasped at the sight of it. It wasn't the usual door that they used when they had D.A practices but there was no mistaking what the door was. It was a door Hermione would never forget.

After a moment's hesitation, Hermione grabbed the doorknob and pushed it open.

The smell was what she recognized first. She inhaled the aroma of her favorite spiced tea, scented candles, and a hint of lemon furniture polishing. The room was an exact replica of the sitting room of her home. This time Hermione couldn't control her tears. She choked out a sob and slowly walked around the muggle home she had grown up in with her parents.

Everything was exactly the same. There were pictures of her from over the years on top of the piano and above the fireplace. Pictures of her parents' smiling faces. They were completely still just like all the pictures muggles took and to Hermione that was perfect. As she walked around the room, she stroked the furniture just to feel if it felt the same, and it did.

She walked down the hallway and saw her bedroom door. Opening the door slowly, she sighed as she entered her lilac room. On the table next to her bed was the only magical picture she had. It was a framed picture of her, Ron, and Harry, sitting on the floor in Ron's room at the Burrow. Harry and Ron were playing wizard's chess while Hermione was reading a book. It showed the three of them deeply involved in what they're doing until they realized Ginny was taking their picture. The three of them looked up at the same time and started to smile and laugh at the camera.

Hermione picked up the frame and held it close to her chest and she sat down on her bed. Tears continued to spill down her face. The crying and walking around had exhausted her and she didn't want to leave the comfort of her bedroom from home. Kicking off her slippers, she removed her robe, and crawled under the covers. Carefully, she placed the picture frame back on the side table, along with her wand, and quickly fell asleep.

A/N: I know this chapter seems a bit like a filler chapter (mostly because it kind of is… woops…) and I'm sorry for that. BUT, I'm really excited to finally start the story because in the next chapter the school year starts and so many characters come into play. I can't wait to write about the Marauders (even though I already have some later chapters written...) Thanks for reading and thank you for all of your kind reviews! :) They really do motivate me to continue writing.