Chapter 43
Hermione woke up the next morning to Crookshanks nuzzling her and purring. She smiled and stroked his long ginger fur for a moment before she sat up with a yawn and stretched. She was about to get out of bed and give Crookshanks his morning meal when she noticed a swan sitting on her bedside table bobbing its head slightly and ruffling its paper feathers.
She smiled again and reached out for it, allowing it to hop into her hand where it turned in a circle a couple of times before it settled down as though nesting, and slowly unfolded itself to a full parchment.
2 September 1993
Good morning kitty cat,
I hope that you're feeling better this morning. I know what you mean about the train ride taking its toll on you. I had to hear the twins going on about possibly losing siblings or parents or even each other or their business going up in smoke, so to speak, their efforts being all for naught. Lee was rather quiet, so I don't know how they affected him, though I can say that I was worried about losing my family — blush — and you.
It's hard enough to say goodbye, knowing that I'm in my last year here and you'll still be here. Please tell me that we will continue to write to each other. I know that I won't be able to function well in Quidditch or anything else if I'm worried about you. Harry and Ron and the antics they get up to don't leave me with much confidence in that area.
Thank you for letting me know about the arrangement with Professor McGonagall and the Ministry. It is good to know that Professor McGonagall has such faith in your abilities. Please be careful though, and don't stretch yourself too thin in your studies. You can have access to all the time in the world, but it doesn't make a bit of difference if you never sleep for all your studies.
Also, given the last two years and what has happened both to you and with Harry and Ron, please remember what Professor Dumbledore said about the Dementors. I know Harry doesn't go looking for trouble intentionally — hard to believe with how curious and suspicious he apparently can be; but this is different — I don't think he'll actually go looking for Sirius Black, just like he doesn't go looking for You-Know-Who. It seems like this year is different and more dangerous in a way, what with the Dementors being here.
I won't tell you to stay away from your friends, I feel that they need your help now more than ever. Try and keep them out of trouble as best you can, but I urge you to be cautious. Harry and Ron are known to be a bit hot headed and jump into things without thinking. They'll need someone who can think clearly in times of stress to keep them safe and out of trouble. I am always here — an owl or charmed parchment away — if you need me to listen.
Oliver
Hermione blinked, and read the letter again. Oliver... was he admitting he had feelings for her? Was it more than just worry for someone he might think of as a sister? She couldn't tell, and her cheeks heated at the thought, and she buried her face a moment as she tried to calm herself and ease the pounding of her heart and the flush of her cheeks at the thought. She got up as Crookshanks snaked his way under her arm and bounded from the bed. She fed him, and found herself relaxing as she forced herself to focus on the task and then got dressed and headed down to breakfast.
She paused in the doorway of the Great Hall, her eyes sweeping over the occupants of the Gryffindor table before she continued inside and sat down beside Harry and Ron. She ducked her head fighting the blush that crept up her neck when she noticed Oliver wasn't far away.
"What have you done now, Ollie?" George's voice reached her ears, and she swallowed thickly, closing her eyes briefly as she tried to tune the conversation out.
"What do you mean?" Oliver asked.
"Hermione," Fred said, and against her will, Hermione found herself looking in their direction.
"Yeah, a whole summer has gone by and she's not sitting with us to talk about it," Lee said.
"I didn't do anything that I know of," Oliver said, and caught her eye with a worried expression.
"Ms Granger," Professor McGonagall said, breaking Hermione's concentration on the small group, and she turned to look at her Head of House. "Your timetable, Ms Granger," Professor McGonagall said when Hermione didn't respond, and instead looked rather nervous.
"Oh," Hermione said, swallowing as she reached out and slowly took the parchment that her Head of House held out to her. "Thank you, Professor."
Professor McGonagall gave a curt nod. "Please see me after breakfast, Miss Granger," she said at length after watching the girl for a moment. Her gaze then flitted back and forth between Oliver Wood and his group of friends and Hermione, Ron and Harry.
"Yes, of course," Hermione said and exhaled a sigh of relief when the Professor headed on down the table, continuing to pass out the timetables in her possession to the rest of the students. Hermione took the chance to turn away from Oliver and the others, and focus on her breakfast, making an attempt to focus on the conversation going on between Harry and Ron.
"Ah, Ms Granger," Professor McGonagall said when Hermione approached her after breakfast. "Come with me please."
Hermione nodded and followed the woman to her office and then closed the door behind them.
"Now," Professor McGonagall said. "I assume that you told Mr. Wood about this?"
Hermione nodded and watched as the woman reached into her desk and removed an hourglass suspended within a gyroscope which was then attached to a long looped chain.
"No one else?" Professor McGonagall asked.
Hermione swallowed and nodded. "No one," she said.
"Good, let's keep it that way," Professor McGonagall said.
"Yes, Professor," Hermione answered and accepted the hourglass.
"You know how this works?"
Again, Hermione nodded.
"Good, I won't have to go over it with you then, other than to say that you are only permitted to turn back time one hour - or class block - whichever comes first, at a time. That is to say that if the class block is two hours, then you may turn back twice, so that you do not arrive late."
"Yes, Professor," Hermione said.
"Now, is there anything you would like to tell me?" Professor McGonagall asked, arching a brow.
"Professor?" Hermione asked in confusion.
"About what is going on between you and Mr. Wood?" Professor McGonagall prompted. "I noticed that there was a bit of tension between the two of you," Professor McGonagall explained when Hermione's confusion didn't dissipate. "Is there anything wrong?"
"Oh," Hermione said nervously and shook her head, though a bit relieved that her Head of House was giving her an out to the conversation. "No, nothing's wrong exactly... it's just... Well, as you know, we've been writing to each other over the years since we met and - well, his last letter was a bit confusing, but no, nothing's wrong."
"Very well," Professor McGonagall said and nodded curtly. "I'll leave that for you and Mr Wood to sort out. You best be off now, or you'll be late."
Hermione looped the chain of the Time-Turner over her head and tucked it into her robe. "Thank you, Professor," she said, and headed off to her Divination class.
That evening, Hermione was exhausted. Keeping to the schedule that Professor McGonagall planned, after her Divination class, Hermione headed off to the girl's bathroom, used the Time-Turner and went to her Arithmancy class. Next, she followed the schedule, going to her Transfiguration class, and used the Time-Turner again to go back and do her Muggle Studies class. She met up for lunch with Harry and Ron, and then they had Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid.
Hermione rolled her eyes. Malfoy was such an idiot. He must have thought Hagrid was pulling their leg when he spoke of how dangerous Hippogriffs could be. The little twit ended up getting hurt. She wasn't really concerned about him, he deserved what he got, even if it was just a scratch. She was more concerned about what would happen to Buckbeak, the Hippogriff that Hagrid had introduced them to in class, and Hagrid himself. After her classes had been completed, and before dinner had started, she found herself in the library.
"Awful early to be in here, isn't it Ms Granger?" Madam Pince asked her when she approached. "Given that it is the first day of classes."
"Yes, Madam Pince," Hermione replied.
"Is there something I can help you with?" Madam Pince asked, noticing her uncertainty. She had watched the girl over the years and knew that she was going through various scenarios in her head.
"I hope so," Hermione said, feeling rather nervous. "I - I was hoping that you could point me to some books about Dementors?"
"I'm sorry," Madam Pince said. "The only ones we have are in the restricted section, and as you know, you'll need a teacher's note for that."
"Oh, yes," Hermione said, deflating. "O-of course. Sorry to bother you."
With a slight nod to Madam Pince, Hermione turned and headed to the Great Hall for dinner, cursing under her breath that she should have known better than to expect the gift of Professor Gilderoy Lockhart's signature to be an open-ended invitation to the full services of the library. This wasn't something that she was willing to let go though, particularly with the Ministry stationing the Dementors around the grounds and the effects they had on Harry.
After dinner, she headed up to the Gryffindor common room and stayed up well after everyone had gone to bed, finishing up her homework for the night. She set her books aside and stifled a yawn as she pulled out a blank piece of parchment and began to write.
2September 1993
Oliver,
Wow, you were right. I can't believe how tired I am, and it's just been the first day using the Time-Turner! Today on what I call 'normal time', I had Divination, Transfiguration and Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid. Professor McGonagall instructed me to only go one-hour or block class at a time, so between the two morning classes, I also had Arithmancy and Muggle Studies. I can see that it will be hard to keep up this schedule, but I do want to give the classes a chance, so I suppose it will just take some time to get used to things.
I am worried about what could happen to Hagrid and Buckbeak, the Hippogriff from today's lesson. I think Malfoy believes Hagrid to be uneducated and didn't listen to his warnings about how to approach a Hippogriff. After Hagrid did a demonstration of how to approach a Hippogriff with Harry, Malfoy approached Buckbeak and insulted him. Buckbeak of course, lashed out, and scratched his arm before Hagrid got him away from the blond moron.
Before dinner, I headed to the library. I had hoped to find some information on Dementors. I had been hoping that giving Madam Pince the autograph of Gilderoy Lockhart last year would have paved the way to unlimited access to the library. Apparently when he lost his memory and ended up in St. Mungo's that killed her fascination, because she told me that I needed a teacher's note because all the books that we have would be in the restricted section. Do you have any ideas on how I might get to see them or know anything about them that you can remember?
Oh, I, um... I also wanted to say that I — I'm sorry for the way I acted this morning at breakfast... I heard Fred, George and Lee asking you about it. The truth is, you didn't do anything wrong. It's just... after your letter this morning, I was — well, I am confused about something, and I'm sorry I took it out on you. Well, I had better go, big day tomorrow with the Time-Turner and all. Good night.
Hermione
Hermione sent off the letter and then headed upstairs to her dorm to get dressed after she gathered up Crookshanks. She was just about ready to climb in bed when a dragonfly appeared on her pillow. Looking at it, she noticed that it was a response from Oliver.
Opening it, she read:
2 September 1993
It's alright, kitty cat. Yes, that does seem like a busy day, and I commend you for wanting to give it a go on the hectic schedule. Sorry to hear of your worry about Hagrid and the Hippogriff. Harry told me of the flight on Buckbeak. I've never ridden one, so can't say if it would be better than riding a broom or not. Not sorry about what happened to the blond moron though, haha. Yes, I agree he deserved it. I hope he doesn't cause Hagrid any trouble.
As for the Dementors, no, I don't really recall anything, you might want to ask Professor Lupin when you have Defence Against the Dark Arts class as they are dark creatures, that's honestly all I remember.
I have to wonder though, what was it about my letter that confused you? Is it what I think it is?
Oliver
Hermione sighed and shook her head, biting her lip as she tried to figure out how to explain what she was confused about and why, and not give away that her feelings toward Oliver were changing. She fidgeted again as she wondered if those feelings were all one sided. Shaking her head, she decided not to address his questions for the time being, at least until she had a chance to think about it. Instead, she climbed into bed and pulled Crookshanks closer when he jumped on the bed and fell asleep as she stroked his fur.