authorsnotes: and the school year starts! here we goooo

I do hope you enjoy, do leave a review and let me know ya thoughts!

songrecs: mood ring - lorde

The shriek of the alarm she'd set felt far too real and was far too loud.

Normally she'd be awake before the alarm, up and ready at 7am, not rolling out of bed past 8am, her best friend rubbing his eyes and looking half dead himself as she shuffled to the bathroom, neither talkative when so tired.

She knew it was their year on the run catching up with them, they had both been deprived of sleep for too long and their bodies and minds were trying to force them to make up for it. What her body didn't understand was that they had the first day of classes to get to.

Now that sent a fizz in her belly as she brushed her teeth, showered and dressed in lightning time, not even attempting to tame her unruly curls as she walked back into the dorm room, Harry into the bathroom next as she packed her bag. She did feel excited to be back at Hogwarts, to be taking classes and to see the difference in the curriculum, would it be difficult? Challenging? She hoped so.

She did feel things would be different course material wise. Not tons of stuff had changed in 17 years (that she knew of, History of Magic was not her best subject), but she knew there's be differences in course content, teaching method and theory. She was looking forward to it but felt nervous too.

Of course there were other things to be nervous about, and as Harry emerged, hair sticking up as always, grabbing his bag, not bulging with books like hers but fuller than usual did she offer him a smile that she knew betrayed her nerves.

"We'll be okay" He said with a nod, "You'll be top of the class in minutes and I'll get to spend more time with my parents, what could be better?"

"What if someone's smarter than me?" She blurred out, her worst insecurity rearing it's head. Ridiculous considering everything they had going on but she couldn't control her mind (she was even worse at Occulmency than Harry and that was saying something, though he was a near master of it now of course), she couldn't control her fear.

But Harry offered reassurance with a scoff and laughter which had her smiling albeit nervously, "As if" Was all he needed to say and she felt most of her nerves chased away, not all, but most, and she felt a little better as they headed for the staircase.

"Are you okay?" She asked, coming to a stop before they descended. Somehow this felt more … official. Now they were starting school, back in time, being part for the 198 class, really integrating. It was a strange feeling.

"I am" Harry said, and she knew he was sincere. They didn't lie to one another, they couldn't, knowing one another far too well to be deceived. She knew Harry better than perhaps she knew herself, and she knew he felt the same way about her.

There was no secrets between them, none.

"You're sure?" She asked, her tone gentle, inviting (well in a sense, she was not a sensitive person, but with Harry she tried). "Really?"

"Really" His smile convinced her, "It's weird don't get me wrong, and will be weird, but this is what we hoped for, right?"

She nodded then, she remembered them in the courtyard, just days earlier, but years in the future, she remembered each moment…

Slipping out of the Great Hall, unable to stand the sobbing of the mourners.

Harry following her, exhausted, defeated, but alive.

Her head on his shoulder, his hand in hers, exhausted, ready to drop, but then her words;

'We have to stay'

Did they?

Well, they hadn't. Neither had truly known where they'd end up, she knew they'd both been thinking of the same thing; undo it all, save the Potter's, reset everything.

They had ended up further back than she had hoped, way back in OWL year, but it gave them time, allowed them to get ready, to start the fight back. They had years now, years to prevent Voldemort's rise, to prevent the prophecy.

She glanced at Harry's forehead then, where the lightning scar rested, peeking out under his black locks, hopefully any version of Harry they saved wouldn't have that he wouldn't if he could help it, they'd save him, they'd save them all.

They had both accepted what this was, coming back, rewriting history, it was what they wanted, what was best, worth it, but it was a one-way trip.

Of course, they'd need to figure out a life here, something beyond saving the world, but for now she couldn't see beyond that, Halloween 1981, 5 years in the future, that was what they were working towards, that was what they had to prevent, and then, and then they'd figure everything else out.

"We need to get the prophecy" She blurted out, even though they were about to head down, to lessons, to what was normal for them, it had sprung to mind. "You can take it, since it will have your signature"

"It hasn't been made yet" Harry said, with a shake of his head, "When it does, then, then we'll get it"

She nodded, for she didn't think they could stop the prophecy being made. Sure, she turned her nose up at Divination, but she had to admit they knew now, there were real prophecies and in being real they couldn't be prevented.

"Okay, lessons then" She said with a smile and that gave Harry a laugh.

"You perked up just at the word" He teased, and she rolled her eyes before trudging down the stairs, Harry behind her, the sound of his laughter the best sound she could hear.

He was alarmed by how little things had changed.

Once in the Great Hall it all looked the same. The house tables had the same set up, the ghosts remained unchanged, the teachers looked younger and there were some unfamiliar faces but that was it. And of course, the other students, it wasn't Neville, Dean and Seamus waving them over but his Dad, Sirius and Lupin, Pettigrew too, his Mother five seats down.

It was still a little surreal to him, hard to process, welcome, but strange.

"We'll be okay" Hermione offered, and he nodded, making his way to sit down opposite Sirius, Hermione sliding into the seat next to him, opposite Pettigrew who she narrowed her eyes at but focused on getting breakfast.

Even the food hadn't changed, though he noticed it was somehow less healthy than the future, and Hogwarts had never focused on the healthiest of meals. Still, he didn't complain, making up a bacon sandwich with some toast on the side, though at Hermione's glare he grabbed an apple with a sheepish smile.

Breakfast was soon over, faster than he remembered it being, but then he realised why, timetables were going out today, and he saw Professor McGonagall making her way too them, looking a touch younger, but he easily recognised her, his old and new Head of House much the same.

She approached Hermione first, glanced at him and then moved to stand in front of both of them, all business as always, his smile was fond as he looked at her.

"Dumbledore told me of your circumstances, and I welcome you both to my house" She said, her voice as always firm but fair, "What OWL's will you both be taking?"

"Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, Care of Magical Creatures, Herbology, Astronomy, Divination, History of Magic and Muggle Studies" Harry rattled off, as he had the night before, and was relieved as she just nodded before turning to Hermione.

"All the same, but no Divination, plus Arithmancy and Ancient Runes" She said, and he noticed as did she at Professor McGonagall's eyebrows raising.

"11 OWL's?" Their Head of House asked, "Miss Blishwick that is unprecedented"

"I can handle it" She reassured her, smiling, and Harry nodded.

"Alright, Professor Dumbledore did explain you had a rigorous home-schooling but we'll need to review in two weeks, myself nor the other Professors tolerate slacking, and if you are to do 11 OWL's, and you 9 Mr Potter, also no small feat" She said crisply and they both nodded, Harry swore he could see a hint of pride on her face, to have such an intelligent student in her house.

With a tap of her wand their timetables were complete, and she handed them over, "We'll review you both in 2 weeks, see how you're settling in with lessons, you've come at the most difficult year"

Again, they both nodded and she seemed somewhat reassured by their lack of panic and Harry knew they'd endeared themselves to her, their old Professor liked no fuss.

She went to move on, but Harry stopped her quickly, remembering the more burning thing on his mind than exams, though he'd hardly tell Hermione that.

"Professor, when are Quidditch tryouts?" He asked, and he watched as she looked interested then, just as she had when Hermione had reassured her of her commitment to the OWL's.

"Tonight Mr Potter, we like to get an early start" She said, "Are you any good?"

"He's amazing" Hermione interjected, as she always did when she had a chance to brag about him, it always made him feel warm inside albeit a little embarrassed, "Really, an amazing Seeker"

McGonagall barely masked her excitement, "Well, our team is good, but we haven't won the Cup in three years, primarily because we have struggled with Seekers and Keepers" She actually smiled then and Harry near laughed, her devotion to Quidditch hadn't changed, "Lets hope you're as good as your friend claims"

He could only nod and roll his eyes as Hermione giggled. He wasn't surprised to see his Head of House interested in his Quidditch ability, though it did make him a little nervous. He knew he was a fair flyer, but he didn't want a weight of expectations on him, not already.

"Come on" Hermione said, and he nodded, slinging his bag over his shoulder and taking a bite of his apple, "Lessons time"

"Don't die of excitement" He quipped, not even remotely sarcastic when it came to Hermione and learning, and he only laughed as she smacked his shoulder before they hurried off to the stairs, straight to Double Transfiguration, which he felt would be a good marker of the difficulty as McGonagall was always tough. After that they had Double History of Magic (well at least he could nap if he needed too), lunch, and then Double Herbology followed by a single Muggle Studies session. He felt oddly excited for the last one, mainly because he knew his Mother would be present.

"Let's go" Hermione said, and he followed her up the stairs, it was almost normal, just different people around, he felt a pang for his old friends, but it was soothed as Hermione turned back to him with a smile.

They were back at Hogwarts, home, it would take a bit of adjusting but at least they were here.

Home.

She shouldn't be this excited to be back in the classroom.

And yet, she had truly missed Hogwarts during their year on the run, and she knew Harry had too (perhaps for different reasons, more Quidditch than lessons). This was their home, and to be back, to have such normality was almost overwhelming.

Here they sat, in Transfiguration class, as though back for their 7th year with everything simple and back to normal. Yes the atmosphere was a little different, their Head of House a little younger and their fellow students different but it almost felt like they were back to school in their time, before they'd left.

Hence her smile, not just because she was excited to be learning again (and she was curious to see the difference in curriculums), but because they were back at Hogwarts, back home and things were a touch more normal.

Sure, it was a little strange to be sat next to Harry, whilst one row down they could see Sirius and James sharing a desk, Lupin and Pettigrew behind them. They shared Transfiguration with the Ravenclaws, and she could see two people who had to be Terry Boot's Dad and Antony Goldstein's Mother. There was also Lily, sat next to a girl she'd called Marlene, right at the front of the class, and behind them sat Alice - Neville's mum. So yes; it was more normal, but still extremely strange.

It was like everything had shifted an inch to the left, they were back, and Hogwarts had little changed, nor had the teachers, but they were surrounded by different people, going under different names, as though everything was just slightly tilted.

"You cannot pass your OWL's" Professor McGonagall began and Hermione quickly sat up straight, "Without serious application, practice and study. I see no reason why everybody in this class should not achieve an OWL in Transfiguration as long as they put in the work" She looked around at all of them then, eyes hard, "But you must put in the work"

As McGonagall finished her speech, it almost having been word for word as the one they'd heard in their 5th year and they both had a snail in front of them ready for vanishing did she give Harry a smile to which he did her, really not much had changed.

It had occurred to her they should hold back a little, not show off all their talents lest they draw attention, but on the same note they needed to prove themselves good enough to join the Order, and the idea of doing intentionally poorly made her want to cringe.

And so, having weighed the pros and cons, (and her own personality, knowing holding back would be impossible), did she dial it back a touch, but still vanished her snail on the third go, Harry on his fifth.

"Good work" Professor McGonagall offered, her eyes sparking with delight she could see, clearly pleased they were living up to what they had promised, "Five points each to Gryffindor"

The other Gryffindors were smiling at them now as their Professor set them to unvanishing them, clearly winning house points would make them popular.

"James" She could hear Harry talk across the tables, and she found herself proud that Harry managed to look only mildly starstruck, "When did Gryffindor last win the house cup thing Dumbledore talked about?" He asked, better at feigning ignorance than her.

Out of the two of them Harry was a better liar when put on the spot, she had to admit lying was not one of her talents, she was too brash, too honest, and Harry was honest too but could lie when necessary which she knew he didn't like doing but it was a useful skill.

"Four years" It was Lily who spoke, and she noted Harry looked a touch more in awe, Lily too had that odd expression that made Hermione nervous, "These idiots always get points taken"

Before James could respond Lily had whipped around and Professor McGonagall was drawing their attention. Hermione grimaced as Harry turned back looking a touch crestfallen.

"You know they need to warm up to one another" She whispered to him and he seemed cheered by that, "No playing matchmaker"

She had to muffle a laugh at Harry's disgusted expression, "I'm not setting up my parents"

Again, she had to hold a hand over her mouth to stop her laughter and then so did Harry as they tried to focus back on class. With each minute it felt easier, more normal, perhaps they could settle in here.

The next lesson was even easier.

She was tempted to scold Harry for not listening to Binns, but she could see just as so much else had stayed the same, so had this class, everyone slumped down on their desks, half asleep. It was only her and Lily who stayed upright taking notes, apparently Lily too had the talent of not feeling tired to Binns voice.

Or perhaps like her, she was a muggleborn intent on proving herself.

Still the double lesson did crawl by and she only didn't' tell Harry off as she noted him scribbling down what looked like spells from Snape's Advanced Potions. She knew they'd need to duplicate it, as she'd mentioned the night before. She'd though they'd need to duplicate the map too until Harry remembered it tucked in his pouch, one less job, but no small one still.

And so, she left him too it, forcing herself to take down notes as Harry scribbled out what he could remember from the book. They hadn't encountered Snape yet and she knew stealing it would be a challenge, but his potions are so superior, she knew they'd need to try, they needed to be making everything to that high standard, they needed every edge they could get, but she knew it wouldn't be easy.

As the double lesson wound down and Binns as per usual floated through the classroom, did she note Harry placing the parchment discreetly in his moleskin pouch. She tucked her books away and they made their way to lunch.

Half a day done already, and things felt more normal each second.

Lunch went even faster, it felt like they'd barely even gobbled down a sandwich before they were making their way to Herbology.

The Scottish autumn was already crisp, and as they hurried down to the greenhouses Hermione cast a quick warming charm over them. She smiled looking over the grounds, she could spy Hagrid's hut in the distance and could see Harry looking at it too. She wondered how they'd get in touch with their friend, but as they hurried into Greenhouse 3 that was a worry for another day.

Herbology as always was loud, busy, and smelled entirely of dung. Professor Sprout was a touch younger, her hair more brown than grey now, but again seemed entirely unchanged. As Hermione and Harry paired up next to Sirius and James, she couldn't help but again feel a little off balance.

She could tell Harry was simply happy, chatting away to his Father and Godfather as they began to trim and prune a Venemous Tentacula (though said plant was very averse to being pruned), but she was just feeling a little off kilter. It was like being at school but not, everything was a bit different, but much remained the same. It was giving her a headache, and she knew it was her own fault, always overthinking things, but she could hardly help it, anymore than Harry could help his reckless streek, or Ron his grumpiness without food.

She felt a pang then as she thought of Ron. She missed the 3rd to their trio, and that was the way things seemed a little strange again. It felt like Ron should be next to them, batting the Tentacula away from her hair before it could reach it (thankfully Harry noticed and both he and Sirius yanked it back before it could go for her curls), making a joke or two and easing her mind. She missed him, even though she knew leaving him behind had been the right call.

She remembered the last conversation they'd had, before seeing Harry again. When they'd kissed in front of a bashful, before promptly bursting into giggles. It had felt wrong, like kissing her brother, and he had (in all his tact) had said it felt like probably what it felt like kissing Ginny, before he'd made a disgusted face and they'd giggled some more before Harry had joined in, one moment of respite in the battle.

So no, though her long crush on Ron had firmly been put to bed (and if she analysed it had been for a while), but she still missed him dearly as a friend, dearly indeed.

"Alright Hermione?" Lupin asked her, stood next to her trimming his own Tentacula (which was cringing back, probably due to his scent), she managed a nod and a smile but couldn't help the feeling of melancholy that had settled over her.

Thankfully the rest of the lesson was taken up with a rather funny event in which one of Slytherin's provoked said Tentacula and was quickly tackled to the floor. That managed a smile to her, and soon the lesson was over, onto their last period of the day, Muggle Studies.

She felt ready for dinner already though, and a hot bath and bed, which she knew would have to wait later, for she'd be watching Harry at trials. It was strange, she'd gone into the day looking forward to it all but was having a harder time adjusting. Yes, the lessons had been fine, relatively easy, but everything just felt a bit off centre, and that was making her feel headachy and strange.

She was sure it would pass though, and as Harry looped his arm through hers to make their way back up to the castle her smile became genuine, for having Harry around always cheered her up.

"Muggle Studies next" Harry said with a smile, but she knew it wasn't due to the subject. She held her worries back on how familiar Lily seemed to find Harry and instead just nodded as they stepped inside to the old classroom.

Having Harry near always eased her and as they sat down, and he smiled she found herself feeling a touch better. Yes, it was strange, and she was having a touch of trouble adjusting but as long as she had Harry that was all that really mattered.

And tonight, he'd fly in trials, no doubt make the team and then tonight she could turn in early, perhaps read a book in bed and then fall asleep warm, comfortable and safe next to her best friend. What more did she need?

soo thoughts?

I enjoyed writing the first day of school but this was just a quick peek through the day, muggle studies and quidditch will offer much more! will harry make the team? tune in next time, mwahahahaha

also, do prepare for more introspectiveness going forward, I think it's important to see how our heroes are adjusting, hermione has time travel jet-lag, but how is harry doing? we will see soon!

as always do review, lemme know watcha think I love to hear! fav/follow for updates

speak soon