A/N - Hi everyone! Finally leaving the Nevilleverse in this chapter and moving to a new one. I hope you all enjoy and be sure to tell me what you think!

Chapter 10

11 July 2003

Hermione sat in her office, staring blankly at the proposal in front of her. Her mind was nowhere near the Ministry or werewolf rights. She'd managed to get out of the flat early again this morning without waking Neville. She was sure he wasn't going to be pleased when he found her note. But she'd had no choice.

Last night, she had stayed at the Ministry for a couple of hours, making notes on everything she had discovered about the Universe hopper so far. She hadn't learned anything new in this world, except what hadn't worked, but sometimes writing out everything she did know helped. It was how she used to revise for exams at Hogwarts.

Nothing new had jumped out at her, however. She had contemplated contacting Padma but figured the other woman would have let her know if she'd found anything new or had some kind of epiphany. Besides, if Neville came looking for her and she wasn't here, Hermione knew he would be worried.

When she finally did go back to the flat, Neville had been sitting on the couch, obviously waiting for her. It was odd, really, because if Ron had acted the same way, Hermione would have been extremely irritated. But with Neville, she just felt a wave of affection. The thing was, she didn't even know if the feeling was hers or the other Hermione's.

She'd told him that she was rather tired, which wasn't even a lie, and that she just wanted to take a bath and then go to bed. He'd smiled and kissed her softly, looking happy that she was going to bed early. He'd joined her shortly after she'd gotten into bed and when she'd protested that he didn't need to go to bed early just because she was, he'd shushed her and pulled her to him, rubbing his fingertips slowly up and down her back. She'd drifted off to sleep, snuggled against his chest, arm around him, feeling more content than she had in a long time.

It was just that feeling that had her sneaking out of the flat early this morning. When she'd woken up, still in Neville's arms, she'd thought about how easy it would be to get used to this; how not only could she see why this Hermione loved Neville so much, but that she wanted something like this as well. She'd looked up at his sleeping face, contemplated waking him for more than just a good morning kiss. That was the thought that had made her leave the bed. She couldn't do that, not again.

There was a knock on her door and Hermione tensed. She'd managed to mostly avoid her coworkers this week. She'd spent a lot of time in the library or the Archives and beyond mentioning where she was going to the department secretary, she hadn't really interacted much with anyone.

"Come in," she called.

The door opened to reveal Amos Diggory, her boss, well the other Hermione's at any rate. He had been made head of the department after the war when Kingsley cleaned house.

"Miss Granger," he greeted, walking in and sitting down in the chair in front of her desk.

"Hello, sir," she replied, trying not to fidget nervously.

"How is the proposal? Prepared for Monday?"

"Yes, sir."

He nodded. "Good, good. And you're doing all right? No…problems?"

"No, sir." She felt her face heat even though she hadn't been the one that had ended up in St. Mungo's for abusing potions.

He smiled at her. "I'm glad to hear it. The mock presentation is scheduled for three o'clock, as you know."

Her eyes widened. "Mock presentation?"

His brow furrowed in confusion. "Did you not get the agenda? I had Phyllis write it up last week."

"Oh, no I got it, I just, well, I'm not sure if I'll be prepared this afternoon."

He frowned. "You said you were ready for Monday."

"I am, it's just, well, there was something I wanted to check on and I, erm, I'd feel better if I had the weekend."

"Miss Granger," he said, then sighed, his face softening along with his tone. "Hermione, I'm sure that this process is bringing up a lot of memories. I have every confidence that not only is your presentation ready, but that it is flawless. It was nearly perfect when we discussed it two weeks ago."

"Mr. Diggory, I-" she trailed off, unsure what to say. If she tried to do the mock presentation, she would likely bugger it up completely. But if she didn't, there was every chance Mr. Diggory would think she wasn't ready. He might even go so far as to cancel the presentation in front of the Wizengamot. Hermione was not going to mess this up for her other self.

"Would it possible to go over the presentation with you privately?" she finally asked.

"Before you present it to the department?"

"No, sir, instead of presenting it to the department."

"Miss Granger, you know the reason we do mock presentations is to be sure that everything is ready for the Wizengamot. It gives the presenter a chance to field questions and concerns, just as they will during the actual presentation."

"I understand that but I just think-"

Mr. Diggory held up a hand to stop her. "If you feel you are not prepared to present today, then perhaps we should reschedule with the Wizengamot."

"No, sir, please don't do that. I'll be ready, I mean, I am ready, it's just-" she trailed off as the date book on her desk caught her attention. The Wizengamot presentation was on Monday at one o'clock. If she could get Mr. Diggory to reschedule the mock presentation to Monday morning, she could take the weekend to figure things out. Or maybe she'd just jump again like she really ought to.

She took a deep breath and met her boss' eyes. "Would it be possible to move the mock presentation to Monday morning at nine o'clock?"

Mr. Diggory's brow furrowed. "That doesn't give you much time to make any changes that are suggested during the meeting."

"It will be plenty of time for me, sir. We can still go over the presentation together this afternoon. If there are any major problems, I'll have the weekend to fix them. Anything pointed out on Monday will likely be minor."

He studied her for a few moments. "And this will make you feel more comfortable?"

"Absolutely, sir. Besides, you know that Friday afternoons aren't the best time to keep everyone's attention." She smirked, hoping this was as true in this universe as it was in her own.

He chuckled. "True enough, Miss Granger, true enough. All right, I'll have Phyllis send out a memo to everyone with the change. I'll expect you in my office at three, however, to go over everything."

"Yes, sir, thank you."

He stood from his chair and nodded. "I will see you this afternoon."

When he'd left her office, closing the door quietly behind him, Hermione blew out a breath and let her head thud down onto her desk. She couldn't stay here. She couldn't give this presentation on Monday; she had no idea what the protocols or procedures were for presenting to the Wizengamot and there was no one she could ask. Luna would be no help and Padma likely wouldn't either. Unspeakables didn't make presentations.

Not to mention that she was getting far too attached to Neville. There was a part of her that could see herself falling for him. While she had been able to observe things about Fred and Theo in the other universes that made her understand why the other Hermiones were with them, this was different. Maybe it was the other Hermione's feelings bleeding into her own, but even still. It was getting dangerous for her to stay here, in more ways than one.

She knew that Neville would want to see his parents soon. He seemed to visit them every weekend. She couldn't go with him again, not after what had happened to his father. Maybe it had nothing to do with her, but she couldn't be sure. She was not about to put the man through something like that again, not to mention that it happening twice after a visit from her would start making people suspicious.

She needed to leave. But she didn't know what to do. She could just jump as she had when she came to this universe, but that wouldn't take her home. She was positive about that. And would it even take her anywhere? If she did the same thing again, maybe she would just stay here. She'd have to do something different with the Universe hopper; line things up differently or turn the rings differently or something. She found she was more terrified of trying something new than she had been when she arrived here. It had been scary, sure, but they'd been convinced they'd figured it out, that she'd end up at home.

Sighing, Hermione rubbed her eyes with a thumb and forefinger. Maybe she should just do it now. But that would mean going back to the flat to get the device and facing Neville. He'd ask her why she was home and get that worried look in his eye that she'd managed to dispel last night by going to bed early.

She couldn't get the device without him knowing about it anyway. It was hidden in the drawer of her desk and he'd told her that he was going to be home all day working on lesson plans for next year. Besides, Padma had convinced her to give it a few days and Hermione didn't want to leave without hearing from her. There was always a chance, small though it was, that Padma would find something that might help.

She looked down at the proposal. She supposed she ought to study it again so she could at least seem competent when she met with Mr. Diggory this afternoon.

Hermione walked towards the Floos in the Atrium. Her meeting with Mr. Diggory had gone relatively well. He hadn't had any significant issues with the proposal. She'd taken a few notes on things to clarify, but they were minor and wouldn't take her long to fix.

Her thoughts were on the Universe hopper again. She needed to jump again; she knew she did. She didn't want to mess up this Hermione's life any further than she already might have. But the thought of it made her gut tighten in dread. The possibility that she would actually get home was slim and she didn't want to have to figure out who she was in yet another universe.

"Hermione!" a voice called and she turned to see Harry hurrying after her. When he reached her, he grinned. "You must be deep in thought. I called your name three times."

"Sorry," Hermione said, giving him a wan smile.

"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked in concern.

"Nothing, I'm fine." She forced a smile on her face. "Just thinking about my proposal."

Harry continued to study her, clearly not believing a word she said. He finally took her arm and led her to one of the benches near the new fountain that had been installed after the war. "What's going on, Hermione?"

She bit the inside of her cheek, hard. All she wanted to do was fall into Harry's arms and tell him everything. But she couldn't do that. And if she started crying right now, he would think the worst and take her straight to St. Mungo's.

"I'm all right, Harry, I promise. It's just been a long week and I have a few things I need to work on over the weekend. I'm nervous about Monday. I really want this to pass."

He smiled. "You're going to be brilliant. You always are."

She felt the tears gathering in her eyes and his smile fell from his face to be replaced by a look of concern. "Hey," he said and pulled her into his arms. "It's all right, Hermione."

She squeezed her eyes shut to keep the tears from escaping. She gave a self-deprecating laugh. "I know, I'm being ridiculous."

"You're not."

Hermione let him hold her for a few more moments and then pulled away. "I'd better get home. Neville is expecting me."

"Talk to him about this, yeah?"

She nodded. "Thanks, Harry."

"Maybe we could get together tomorrow for dinner again? Help take your mind off it? You could come to ours."

"I'll talk to Neville." She leaned over and kissed his cheek, then turned and hurried to the Floos.

Neville's reaction was much the same as Harry's had been when she stepped out of the fireplace into their flat.

"What's wrong, love?"

"Nothing, it's nothing," she said, feeling the tears threatening again.

"It's something," he said putting his arms around her.

"I'm just, I don't know, it's been a long week," she said echoing the words she'd just said to Harry.

"Did your mock presentation go all right?"

"I didn't do it," she mumbled into his shirt.

"What do you mean?"

"I asked Mr. Diggory to reschedule it to Monday morning."

"How come?"

She shrugged. "I just didn't feel like I was ready to do it today. I went over everything with Mr. Diggory instead."

His arms tightened around her and he was silent for a few minutes. Hermione relaxed against him and felt some of her stress melt away. A part of her wished she could just stay here like this forever.

"Do you think," he began, then stopped.

She tilted her head, resting her chin on his chest and looked up at him. "Do I think what?"

"Maybe it's too soon," he finally said. "After…last time, maybe you should postpone it for a while."

"No, it's not that," she replied with a sigh. "And if I postpone, I'll just worry about it longer. The proposal is ready, it just needs a few minor changes. It's just, this is important and I don't want to mess it up."

"You won't," Neville said. "You're brilliant."

She smiled. "And you're biased."

"Maybe," he said. "But you're still brilliant."

She laughed and shook her head, pressing her cheek against his chest once more. He rested his chin on top of her head.

"How about you run yourself a bath, take a glass of wine with you and I'll get takeaway for supper?"

"That sounds wonderful, actually."

He kissed the top of her head. "No work tonight, all right?"

"All right," she agreed, looking up at him.

He smiled and kissed her. She relaxed into the kiss, wrapping her arms more tightly around him. When they broke apart, he smiled again, kissed the tip of her nose and then shooed her off to the bathroom. Hermione smiled at him over her shoulder before she closed the door to the loo, starting the bath and shedding her robes. She'd think about jumping tomorrow. Tonight, she just planned to relax and forget about everything.

"Feel better?" Neville asked when Hermione walked back into the living room. Her hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun and she'd donned a pair of cotton shorts and a long-sleeved t-shirt.

"Much," she said with a smile.

He took her hand, kissed the back of it, and then led her to the couch. He had spread out the containers of food on the table in front of the couch and switched on the telly.

"Figured maybe we'd watch a film, relax a bit tonight."

"Yes, please," she said with a contended sigh, filling her plate and then settling back into the corner of the couch. Neville put in the DVD, then filled his own plate and sat back to eat.

They ate in companionable silence, watching the film, Hermione finishing first. When Neville had finished, he sent the empty containers and dishes back to the kitchen with a wave of his wand. He held an arm out to Hermione and she moved across the couch to snuggle into him.

By the time the film was over, they were reclined back, Neville's head resting on the arm of the couch, Hermione on her side with her head on his chest. His fingertips ran up and down her arm, leaving gooseflesh in their wake. She was so relaxed, even when the film was over, she didn't want to move.

"Still awake?" Neville asked with a chuckle.

"Hmm, yes," she said contentedly.

"Do you want to watch another?"

"If you like," she said.

"I'm asking what you want."

"Can we just lie here awhile?"

"Of course, love."

He kissed the top of her head and continued stroking her arm. She snuggled further into his side, wrapping an arm around his torso. He stopped rubbing her arm and wrapped both arms around her, holding her tightly. She sighed in contentment, thinking how nice it was to have someone take care of her for once.

"Hermione?" Neville asked quietly a few minutes later.

He sounded a bit unsure and her brow furrowed in confusion. "Yeah?"

"I, will you," he cleared his throat. "Have you thought more about the Transfiguration post?"

"Neville," she said with a sigh.

"I know, I know, I told you I wouldn't pressure you. But I'm, fuck, forget I said anything. I'm sorry."

He fell silent and Hermione looked up at him. Her eyes widened at the look on his face. He looked…scared.

"What is it?" she asked. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's nothing,"

"I don't believe you." She propped herself up on one arm, putting her other hand on his chest. "Please tell me."

He blew out a shaky breath. "It's just, this week, with your proposal and all the extra time you've been putting in, I'm just," he shook his head. "I'm so damn scared, Hermione. That I'm going to come home and find you like, like that again. Or that I'm going to get a call from St. Mungo's."

He finally met her gaze. "It's not that I don't trust you. I know that you've worked through all of the issues with the potions and you've told me that you haven't been using them this time. I believe you, honestly, I do. But I can't help remembering the last time and I just, I can't lose you. I just can't."

"Oh, Neville," she said, leaning forward again and hugging him as best she could while he was still lying on the couch. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

He clutched her to him and Hermione felt horrible. It sounded like her other self had been balancing things quite well and then Hermione had shown up. Trying to figure out her situation and trying to avoid Neville as much as possible had made things horribly worse. She thought back to the all the looks he'd given her over the past week when she'd come home late or pretended to be working on her proposal here in the flat. The frowns that he'd quickly covered, the comments that she took as teasing but might have really been legitimate concern, their discussion the other night at dinner where he had flat out asked her if she'd been using potions again. Gods, what had she done?

"I'm sorry," she said again.

"No, I'm sorry," he said. "I shouldn't have pushed about Hogwarts. I know there's a lot to do right before a presentation and it hasn't been like it was last time. I know that."

"Neville," Hermione said, leaning up again and putting a hand to his cheek. "I understand why you were worried and why everything that's happened this week brought up all the feelings from last time. I mean how long did we have nightmares after the war? This is the same kind of thing. Of course, those feelings are going to come back up again."

He grasped her hand and kissed her palm. "Still, I shouldn't have asked you about Hogwarts. You told me you weren't going to decide until after your presentation and I should have respected that regardless of how I felt."

"But it's okay to tell me that you're afraid. Sometimes I am too."

"Yeah?"

She nodded, although she was scared about something completely different than Neville thought. And while she still hated lying to him, she'd use that fear if it made him feel better.

"I love you," he said. "I love you so much."

"I love you too," she said and then leaned down and kissed him. She realized it was the first kiss she had initiated between them since she'd been here. Neville returned the kiss enthusiastically and Hermione knew that she had to stop it before things went further. She couldn't let herself get carried away again.

Gently breaking the kiss, she leaned back and smiled at him then returned to her earlier position of lying on her side with her head on his chest. He was still for a few moments, then began stroking her arm again.

She had to leave. She knew she did. Her behavior was worrying Neville and she didn't want to put him through that again. She didn't know the entire story, but it was obvious from what Neville had said that he'd been the one to take the other Hermione to hospital. And with everything Harry and Padma had said, it had clearly been serious.

She had to talk to Padma and see if she'd found anything new. Regardless of her answer, Hermione had to jump again.

12 July 2003

She woke with Neville spooned behind her again. Hermione knew she should get out of bed but she couldn't make herself move. If she were honest with herself, there was a part of her that just wanted to stay here and be with Neville.

She knew she couldn't, she didn't belong here, and she wasn't about to take over someone else's life. Especially when that person was still inside the same body waiting to get back. As mad as it sounded, Hermione knew it was true. And she was also convinced that her increased agitation the last couple of days was more the other Hermione fighting to get back than just Hermione wanting to return to her own world. So, she would leave. Today.

When Neville shifted closer to her, Hermione eased herself from the bed.

"Where're y'goin?" Neville mumbled sleepily.

Hermione couldn't help but smile at him. His eyes were still closed and it was clear he would probably drift right back to sleep. "The loo."

He made a noise of acknowledgement and then snored softly. Hermoine held in a laugh and quietly left the bedroom, crossing to the loo.

When she stood in front of the sink, washing her hands, she looked up at herself in the mirror. Despite the fact that her parents were lost to her in this universe, and she obviously wasn't close to the Weasleys either, Hermione still thought this Hermione had a rather good life. And all because Harry had been helped onto the train by someone different.

Sighing, Hermione contemplated when she should leave. She did want to talk to Padma first, so maybe sometime this afternoon. She should probably retrieve the universe hopper and keep it with her when she went to Padma's. Hermione would have to think of something to tell Neville that would allow her to get to Padma's without causing him more stress.

Maybe she could say that she was meeting Luna. The other woman would go along with it if questioned, even if Hermione hadn't had a chance to tell her about it beforehand. Given Harry had invited them to dinner tonight, something she needed to tell Neville about still, Luna could help the other Hermione with everything that had happened in her absence if Hermione were already gone. Although, it was unlikely that Hermione would meet Luna for lunch when she was already seeing her for dinner. She'd have to think of something else.

She felt a pang of regret at not being able to say goodbye to Luna before she left. Hermione would have liked to but there was always the possibility that Harry would find out if she Flooed Luna or even sent an owl. Hermione would have to content herself with knowing that Luna would understand.

Sighing at her reflection, she dressed and then headed into the kitchen to make breakfast.

"I'm going to visit Mum and Dad today," Neville said later as they sat at the table eating breakfast. He seemed back to his usual self after their conversation last night. Hermione hoped he wasn't just masking his concern so as not to make her feel guilty.

"Oh," Hermione said.

"We promised Gran we'd meet with her about the wedding tomorrow, remember?"

"Right," Hermione said.

"Knowing Gran that won't be a short meeting," Neville said with a laugh. "So, today's probably better to see Mum and Dad."

Hermione didn't respond. She couldn't go to St. Mungo's again, not after what had happened with his father last time. Neville looked up a few moments later, brow furrowed. "Something wrong?"

"No, it's just, I made plans to see Padma today."

"Padma?" Nevile questioned. "Patil?"

"Yes," Hermione said thinking quickly. "I ran into her at the Ministry the other day and we were both saying how it had been so long since we'd seen one another. So, we made plans for lunch."

Neville looked confused. "I didn't realize the two of you were close."

"We're not," Hermione said with a shrug. "But we haven't spoken since that D.A. get together last year and we just thought it might be fun to catch up."

"You decided to do this the weekend before your proposal?" It was clear that this was last thing Neville had expected to hear.

"I did almost cancel yesterday, but I knew that it wouldn't be healthy for me to work all weekend." Hermione felt horrible playing on Neville's emotions like this but if she were going to leave, she had to see Padma.

Neville reached over and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. "All right, love. I'll explain to Mum and Dad."

"Maybe if we finish with your Gran early enough, we can see them tomorrow too?"

Neville smiled. "Of course."

"Harry invited us to dinner at theirs tonight," Hermione said, taking a sip of tea. "I told him we'd come as long as it was all right with you."

"Sounds perfect." He smiled at her again and Hermione knew he was happy she wasn't going to bury herself in work this weekend. She just hoped that the other Hermione would be fine with it as well.

Neville had already left for St. Mungo's when Hermione knelt before the fireplace to Floo Padma.

"Hermione," Padma said as her flat came into view. "I was just going to owl you."

"Oh," Hermione said. "Did you find something?"

"Why don't you just come through," Padma said.

"All right." Hermione pulled her head from the fireplace. She threw in more Floo powder and then stepped in, calling out for Padma's flat.

"What did you find?" she asked the moment she stepped out of Padma's fireplace. At Padma's look of amusement, Hermione blushed. "Sorry, it's just, I have to leave. Today."

"What's happened?"

"All the time I've been spending with you and hiding in my office has been giving Neville flashbacks of what happened to his Hermione and I can't keep putting him through that."

"Why have you been hiding in your office?" Padma asked in confusion.

"I, it's, well, it's complicated."

Padma simply raised her eyebrows in question.

Hermione sighed. "I'm getting far too close to Neville."

"By close you mean-" Padma trailed off.

Hermione nodded miserably. "I didn't mean to, it just sort of…happened." She knew that was at least a partial lie. She hadn't really tried to stop anything, making the excuse that he would be more suspicious if she did. But she hadn't even tried.

"So, you've been trying to avoid Neville and in doing so, he thinks you're falling back into old habits," Padma said.

"Yes," Hermione sighed. "I just, I can't hurt him anymore. So please, please, tell me you've found something."

"It's not much," Padma said.

"Anything is better than nothing."

"Do you have the device?"

Hermione nodded and pulled the box from her pocket. She handed it to Padma.

Padma opened the box and then cast a magnification charm. "I think you've mistranslated this symbol here." She pointed to the one she was talking about.

"You translated it to mean destination. But I think it's actually destiny."

Hermione studied the symbol in question. It had been one of the more difficult ones to translate and had actually been the last one that they'd found in some obscure scroll that Padma in the second universe had found in the DOM.

"I knew I'd seen that symbol somewhere before and I didn't remember it meaning destination. It took me a couple of days but I finally found this old scroll in the library." She handed Hermione the box with the universe hopper and moved to her kitchen table.

Hermione followed and saw the same scroll that the Padma in the second universe had found, but also another that looked even older.

"I'm guessing this one is the one you used to translate that particular symbol," Padma said, indicating the first scroll.

"Yes," Hermione agreed.

Padma nodded. "It does translate to destination in this scroll. But this one," she paused and unrolled the other scroll carefully. Even with the preservation charms that they cast in the DOM, some of the documents they handled were extremely fragile. "This one says it's destiny. I remembered because I used this for a project I worked on a couple of years ago. There are a few symbols here that were thought to be mistranslated in later writings."

Hermione stared at the scroll and then looked back at Padma. If she were right, this could change everything.

They'd quickly made the same paper models of the Universe hopper that Hermione had made in the previous universe. It didn't take them nearly as long to come up with a solution as it had the first time. And this time, once they'd aligned all the destiny runes and symbols and the journey runes, the rest of the symbols and runes were much more closely aligned. Those that had been diagonal from each other were in line now. The ones that had been opposite one another still were, which made Hermione and Padma think they were supposed to be that way.

When they finished with the parchment model, Padma looked at Hermione and grinned. Hermione tried to smile but couldn't quite manage it.

"You don't think this is it?" Padma said with a frown.

"I don't know what to think," Hermione said. "Something Luna said keeps coming back to me."

"What was that?"

"She said that once I'd found what I was looking for I'd get home."

"And have you?" Padma asked.

Hermione laughed. "I don't even know what it is that I'm supposedly looking for."

Padma's brow furrowed in thought. "Well, you've seen three different relationships that all appear more suited to you than your own."

"Yes," Hermione said. "But two of the three are impossibilities in my world."

"Could you see yourself with Neville though?"

"Sure, but that doesn't mean I'm going to go home and try to break up him and Hannah."

"I thought you said they'd only just started dating."

"They have but I've been gone for three weeks now. Anything could have happened in that amount of time."

"I highly doubt Neville has married her already," Padma said wryly.

Hermione managed a small smile. "Even so, I'm not going to interfere in someone else's happiness for my own selfish reasons. And I don't have the friendship with the Neville in my world that this Hermione did, does. I mean we're friends but we're nowhere near best friends."

"All right, so maybe it's not about Neville or anyone else specifically. Maybe it's just to show you what you really want in a relationship."

"Maybe," Hermione said but she wasn't convinced.

"Moving on. You've obviously seen here that you wouldn't want to work for the DRCMC."

"But I knew that already," Hermione said with a sigh.

"Maybe but you told me yourself that sometimes you feel guilty that you didn't take that path; didn't try to help House Elves and werewolves and other creatures."

"I suppose."

"So maybe this was just a reinforcement that you're where you belong in the DOM."

Hermione just nodded. While what Padma was saying was technically true, she didn't think it was really what Luna meant.

"Look, I believe that Luna just knows things sometimes," Padma said. "But please don't let what she said convince you that this isn't going to work. You have no idea what, exactly, she meant by 'finding what you're looking for'."

"I know, you're right, it's just," Hermione trailed off, shaking her head.

Padma reached over and put a hand on Hermione's arm. "I know it's scary. I can't even imagine doing what you're doing, unsure if it's going to work. But your only other option is just staying here."

"No," Hermione said immediately. "No, I can't do that."

Padma nodded. "Then this is your only choice, yes?"

"Yes," Hermione said with a sigh.

"Do you want to do it here?" Padma asked.

Hermione shook her head. "No, I'd better do it at home. I'm sure the other Hermione is going to be pretty confused, so familiar surroundings and all that."

"All right," Padma said.

"Thank you, Padma," Hermione said. Even though the Hermione and Padma of this world weren't really friends, she'd still done everything she could to help.

"You're welcome." Padma gave her a bit of a sad smile. "Kind of makes me wish we were better friends. This Hermione I mean."

"Never too late for that," Hermione said with a smile.

Padma gave a wry smile. "Right, how do I explain that? So, your other self from an alternate dimension asked me for help getting out of your body and we got pretty close. Want to have lunch?"

Hermione laughed. "Maybe don't lead with the body sharing thing." She pulled Padma into a hug. "Thank you."

"Good luck, Hermione."

Neville was already home when Hermione arrived, not that she was surprised. His parents always napped after their lunch.

"Hey, love," Neville said as she stepped out. "How was your lunch?"

"It was good," Hermione said. "I forgot how much I enjoy talking to Padma."

"I'm glad you had a good time," Neville said with a smile as she siphoned ash from her clothes.

"How were your parents?"

"Same as always," he said. "Mum missed you."

Hermione gave him an apologetic smile. "And your dad?"

"Seems to be fine," Neville said. "Back to his usual self. Odd really."

"I'm glad."

Neville stepped forward and put his arms around her. "Me too." He leaned down and kissed her.

Hermione let herself get lost in the kiss for a few moments, wrapping her arms around his neck. Gods, she was going to miss kissing Neville Longbottom. Before things could get too heated, she stepped back from him.

"I hate to do this but there are a couple of things I need to rewrite in my proposal. A few changes that I discussed with Mr. Diggory yesterday. I promise it won't take me long."

He smiled down at her, although there was still that undercurrent of concern in his eyes. "I understand."

"I'll use your desk, if that's all right." Neville's materials for his lesson plans were in a stack on the side table next to the couch. Hermione had discovered that he rarely used the desk in the bedroom. "That way you can work too if you like."

"That's fine, love." He kissed her again and Hermione smiled at him when they parted, hoping the tears pricking at the back of her eyes weren't apparent on her face. It was a kiss good-bye after all.

She closed the bedroom door behind her once she stepped inside, leaning against it for a moment and blowing out a breath. She had no intention of working on the proposal, although she'd left the appropriate notes for her other self. Instead, she decided to write a letter to try and explain some of the events of the last week to the other Hermione.

She had decided that she would wait until it was closer to the time they were going to leave to go to Harry and Luna's for dinner to go. She'd jump from the loo, leaving the letter in her pocket with the other Hermione's wand before she did so. Hopefully, the letter, along with help from Luna, would ease the other Hermione back into her life.

She looked down at the box with the Universe hopper. She couldn't help but feel that she still wasn't going to make it home. Maybe she'd find what she was looking for in the next world.

"Almost ready, Hermione?" Neville called through the door.

"Yes, just a few minutes."

"I'll be in the living room."

Hermione didn't respond, staring down at the Universe hopper. She lifted it carefully from the box and put it around her neck, stowing the box in her pocket, although she doubted it would come with her. She made sure the letter was in her pocket. It was spelled so only the other Hermione could read it. To anyone else it would look like blank parchment.

She picked up the universe hopper and began to turn the rings to line up the runes. She glanced at herself one last time in the mirror before she turned the final one and jumped.

When she landed, Hermione knew immediately that not only was she not in her flat but she had no idea just where she was. She grabbed the Universe hopper and looked at the symbol that wrapped around the edge. She and Padma had discussed it and felt that as long as Hermione wasn't in any immediate danger when she landed, it should be the first thing she did. She still didn't know how it was going to help but she looked at both sides of the device, committing the symbol to memory until she could hopefully draw it.

That finished, she looked for her wand. She was, once again, in different clothing than she'd been in when she'd jumped. Instead of the jeans and shirt she'd been wearing, she was now in a set of formal dress robes. She'd landed in the other Hermione's body again, she thought with a sigh. Not that she hadn't expected it, but she'd hoped that she wouldn't.

She glanced around the room for the first time. It was clearly a bedroom, hers most likely, and Hermione stood in front of a vanity table. Her wand lay on the table in front of her and she snatched it up, feeling more comfortable once the familiar piece of vine wood was back in her possession. She conjured a box and placed the device inside, warding it and putting it in one of the drawers of the vanity.

She looked at herself in the mirror and her mouth dropped open. The robes she was wearing were gorgeous and also clearly expensive. Her hair had been tamed into an elaborate updo decorated with tiny crystals. Her makeup was beautifully done and either the Hermione of this world had learned quite a few beauty charms or someone else had done it for her.

There were a pair of dangerously high heels sitting on the floor next to the vanity, that obviously matched the dress. How on earth was she going to walk in those? And where was she going dressed like this? Some kind of ball or something?

There was a large diamond ring on her left ring finger as well. Oh gods, was she married to some rich Pureblood? How the hell had that happened? In the other three universes, her partners had made sense, even Nott after she'd heard the story of how they got together. And he'd never really said much about his family's money. He lived with the other Hermione in her small flat for Merlin's sake. Never in a million years would she have expected to live with this kind of money.

There was a knock on the door and Hermione jumped. She was scared to see who was on the other side.

"Come in," she finally managed.

The door opened and she barely kept her mouth from dropping open once again.

"Hermione, you look stunning."

"Kingsley?"