Chapter 14

16 July 2003

Hermione sat in her suite waiting for supper, thoughts wandering. As far as she was aware, Kingsley wasn't home yet. Or if he was, he hadn't sought her out.

After their…encounter, and subsequent discussion the night before, Hermione had kissed him one last time, then climbed off his lap. They'd sat in the sitting room, his arm around her as she rested against his side. They'd spoken a bit more about St. Mungo's and her other meetings this week before Kingsley had tried to stifle yet another yawn. He'd apologized profusely but Hermione had risen, then held out a hand to help him up from the settee.

They'd walked to her rooms and Kingsley had kissed her again at her door before bidding her good night. There had been a part of Hermione that had wanted to ask him to stay but she'd bit the inside of her cheek to keep from saying it. She couldn't let things go any further than they already had.

Sleep had not come easily the night before as all she could seem to do was replay everything that had happened on that settee. It had led to a disjointed night of sleep, her dreams full of Kingsley and everything she'd like to let him do to her. She'd slept so fitfully that she'd ended up missing breakfast. Jinx had brought a tray to her room once Kingsley had left for the Ministry.

Shaking her head to clear it of those images, Hermione sighed, thankful that tomorrow was Thursday. She had a meeting with Padma over lunch to discuss anything that Padma might have discovered about the Universe Hopper. Hermione really hoped that the other woman would have an idea that hadn't come up in any of the other universes.

There was a knock at the door of her sitting room and Hermione knew it must be Kingsley. Jinx would have just popped in. "Come in."

He smiled at her as he opened the door and stepped inside. She couldn't help but return it as she got to her feet. He was still in his Ministry robes so he must have just gotten home. She felt something squirm in her belly at the thought that he'd come straight to her rooms instead of going to his own to change first.

"Hello," he said, stepping forward and kissing her chastely on the lips.

Hermione smiled at him when he released her. He seemed much more relaxed today. She wondered if it were because work had been better today or because of what had transpired between them the night before.

"I'm sure Jinx will be happy to see you home at a reasonable hour."

Kingsley laughed. "I'm glad I'll escape her wrath tonight. Speaking of supper will likely be ready soon so I should change. I just wanted to see you first since I missed you at breakfast.

"Sorry about that. I overslept, I guess."

He shook his head. "No apology necessary. You're allowed to sleep as late as you like." He smiled at her again. "Although I do enjoy starting my day with you."

Merlin, he had to stop saying things like that. It didn't help her resolve any.

"I'll be sure I'm up tomorrow then," she found herself saying. What was wrong with her? She shouldn't be encouraging him. But, like numerous times before, Hermione hadn't intended to say that. She hadn't intended to say anything, truthfully. It had just slipped out.

"Shall I come back after I've changed? We can head to supper together."

"All right," Hermione agreed.

He kissed her again, a little less chastely this time, then took his leave. Hermione blew out a breath once he'd gone, crossing her fingers that her meeting with Padma went well the next day.

"How did you find the orphanage?" Kingsley asked once they were seated and Jinx had put the food on the table.

"It's very well run," Hermione said. "And I very much liked Evelyn."

Kingsley nodded. "We were lucky to find her. As are the children. She does an amazing job there."

"It's just so disheartening," she said. "All those children."

Hermione had been surprised by the number of children that lived at the orphanage. In her world, there had been war orphans, yes, but not nearly as many. And most seemed to have been taken in by relatives, or in the case of not having any living relatives, other magical families. The loss here had been much worse as she'd seen at Padma's.

Kingsley nodded. "Yes, it's unfortunate. If the Wizengamot had allowed adoption to fulfill their so-called 'quota' of how many children couples must have, I suspect the orphanage would likely be empty. As it is, many couples don't think about adopting given they already have to have two children of their own."

Not to mention the fact that some of these couples are marrying virtual strangers, Hermione thought to herself. She couldn't imagine adopting a child right away while she was still trying to get to know her spouse and learning how their relationship would work.

"Was Ms. Smythe able to convince you to join the board then?" Kingsley asked with a smile.

"I'm definitely thinking about it," Hermione replied. "Their school program could use a bit of revamping."

Actually, what they needed were more teachers. As it was now, Evelyn taught the eight- to ten-year-olds. The younger ones had volunteers that came in a few times a week to teach a bit here and there but it wasn't structured at all. Evelyn had told her that some of the children that were as old as seven still couldn't read, or at least not well. Inevitably, Evelyn spent most of her time with the older children making sure they had basic skills, rather than teaching them anything more advanced. Hermione was concerned about what would happen when the children started getting their Hogwarts letters.

"Money is always an issue," Kingsley said with a sigh. "The Ministry's budget only goes so far. They get donations but not enough."

Hermione nodded. It was disheartening. With as much money as some of the Pureblood families had, like the Malfoys, for example, the orphanage should not have to beg for donations.

"Well, a sizeable donation from the Minister and his wife might spur some of the rest of them into action, don't you think?" she asked with a smirk.

Kingsley chuckled, then reached over and took her hand. "Yes, I think you might be right."

Hermione grinned and returned to her food.

17 July 2003

Hermione stepped out of the Floo into Padma's flat, siphoning away the ash as she did so.

"Hello, Hermione," Padma said coming out of the kitchen with a plate of sandwiches and two bottles of Butterbeer.

"You didn't have to make me lunch," Hermione said as they sat on the sofa, Padma setting the plate and Butterbeer on the table in front of it.

She laughed. "Well, since I was planning to eat, I thought it would be rather rude to force you to sit there and watch me."

Hermione smiled and picked up a Butterbeer, taking a drink. She accepted a plate from Padma and helped herself to a sandwich.

"How were your meetings so far?" Padma asked.

The last thing Hermione wanted to talk about were her meetings at St. Mungo's and the orphanage. She just wanted to get to the topic at hand. "They were both fine, but I'm not the one that's going to be making the decision. Did you have any ideas about the Universe hopper?"

Padma shook her head in amusement. "Right to business I see."

"I'm sorry," Hermione said, blushing a bit. "It's just, I'm ready to go home."

"I know you are," Padma said, growing more serious. "Hermione, I honestly can't imagine how you're doing this. I would be, well, I'm not sure I would be coherent, that's for sure."

Hermione blew out a breath. "I just try to stay busy figuring things out. It's been a lot harder this time since this Hermione isn't working right now. It gives me too much time to think." She fell silent for a few moments. "Can we just not talk about that right now?"

"Of course," Padma said. "I'm sorry."

Hermione waved off the apology. "So, anything?"

"Nothing concrete, I'm afraid," Padma said with a sigh. Hermione's heart sank. "The runes and symbols all seem to be translated correctly and I think you were definitely onto something with lining up the same runes, especially after changing the mistranslation last time. How did you come to decide how to turn the rings?"

"We just decided to use them the same way you would on a Time-turner."

"But this isn't a Time-turner, is it?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you turn the hourglass in a Time-turner anti-clockwise because you want to go back in time. Which makes sense, obviously. But the Universe Hopper doesn't travel in time. Or at least it hasn't as of yet."

"You think turning the rings in the opposite direction will make a difference?"

"I have no idea," Padma said. "But it is something you haven't tried yet, isn't it?"

"Yes," Hermione said with a sigh. "I'm just afraid that eventually I'll run out of things to try."

Padma nodded sympathetically. "Have you had any more thoughts about the symbol that wraps around the edge?"

"No and it's extremely frustrating. I know it must mean something since it changes each time but I have no idea what."

"I know that you watched in a Pensieve in some of the other universes but I don't think that's an option for us this time."

It definitely wasn't. Given she was the wife of the Minister of Magic, anything Hermione did was watched and reported on. She was extremely lucky that no one had seen her altercation with Ron in Diagon Alley the other day. Her visit to St. Mungo's, as well as the orphanage, had been reported in the Prophet. Since she wasn't working right now, going to Hogwarts and asking to borrow the Pensieve would arouse suspicion even in Minerva. Hermione had no project she could claim she was working on.

"No, it isn't," Hermione said. They were silent for a few moments before Hermione spoke again. "I never asked you about Rookwood." She had forgotten all about the man that had likely invented the Universe Hopper in the first place.

"He's in Azkaban," Padma said.

"Figures," Hermione said with a scowl. If it had been nearly impossible to interview Rookwood in other universes where he'd been in prison, it was completely out of the question now that she was Kingsley's wife.

Padma glanced at the clock on the mantel. "I've got to get back to work, I'm afraid."

"And I have a meeting to get to," Hermione said.

"I'll have another look at the photographs tonight. Shall we meet again tomorrow?"

"My meeting with the book editor is at eleven. I'm not sure how long it will take."

"Let's say one o'clock then. That should give you enough time I expect."

"All right," Hermione agreed. She stood and walked to the Floo. Just before she threw the powder in, she turned back to Padma. "Thank you for helping me."

Padma smiled. "Of course I would, Hermione."

Hermione nodded and made a mental note to be sure to put in the letter to her other self before she jumped again to become better friends with Padma. Hermione missed her friend.

Kingsley was late again. Hermione had retreated to the library after she'd eaten, still angry after her meeting with Alistair Wright, the solicitor. It wasn't the man himself; he'd been perfectly pleasant to talk with. He'd been rather excited at the fact that Hermione might want to go into law. No, it was what he'd told her about the training that had her pacing in front of the fireplace in the library, going over everything he'd told her.

She didn't even notice when Kingsley entered, not until he spoke "What has you wearing a hole in the carpet?"

She stopped and looked over at him. He'd changed his clothes already, which she assumed meant he'd eaten as well. Hermione knew that Jinx was terribly upset that Kingsley had missed supper twice in three days. The House Elf had muttered under her breath about it the entire time she'd been serving Hermione. And he was much later tonight than he had been the other night. If Hermione hadn't been so agitated, she likely would have retired to her rooms by now.

"Did your meeting not go well?" he asked as he crossed the library. He moved towards her and took her in his arms.

Hermione sighed and rested her cheek against his chest, relaxing a bit in his embrace. "It wasn't the meeting itself. Mr. Wright was very helpful."

Kingsley pulled back and looked down at her, brow furrowed. "Did something else happen?"

"No, nothing like that," she said with a sigh, pulling away from him and crossing her arms over her chest.

"Clearly something has upset you."

She sighed again and sank down into an armchair that faced the sofa. Kingsley sat down on the sofa across from her, still looking concerned.

"I always knew that the laws were skewed to favor Purebloods but I never really realized just how much. Did you know that Muggleborns need more references and better N.E.W.T. scores than Purebloods to become a solicitor? They also have to work under another solicitor for at least three years before they can be licensed and they have to go through a vigorous testing process. Purebloods can be licensed after one year with only the word of the solicitor they worked for that they're qualified."

Kingsley sighed. "I didn't know the particulars, no, but it doesn't surprise me. I'm sure the reasoning is something along the lines that Purebloods are better versed in our laws because they grew up here."

"Which is just a veiled form of prejudice," Hermione said with a scowl.

"I don't disagree. Our government needs a complete overhaul but I'm meeting opposition at every turn. And I know if I push too hard, I'll just be ousted in the next election. But if I don't push hard enough, I'm letting down those that I swore I would do better for."

"This isn't your fault, Kingsley. Most of these laws were on the books long before you or I were even born."

"I realize that but sometimes I wonder what we fought this war for if we're just going to go back to the status quo." He sighed and rubbed his forehead with a thumb and forefinger.

Hermione rose, then sat on the table in front of him. "You're a wonderful Minister." Of course, she had no frame of reference for what kind of Minister he actually was besides knowing what the Kingsley of her world was like. But they were rather similar, as far as she could tell.

"Some days I do not feel like it," he said giving her a small smile. "If I were a better Minister, perhaps you wouldn't be sitting here in my library researching new careers."

"That's not your fault and you know it."

He gave her that same half-smile but didn't look at all convinced.

"Besides, I quite like this library."

He chuckled. She smiled. "As well as the man in it."

Damn it, she hadn't meant to say that. Not out loud at least. But instead of feeling regret or trying to backtrack immediately, she just felt…anticipation. Mother of Merlin, she was definitely not completely in charge of the body she was in.

Kingsley stared at her heatedly. She swallowed as he laid a hand on her knee. He leaned forward and she met him halfway, his lips covering hers in a searing kiss. Hermione's arms automatically went around his neck as she scooted to the edge of the table to get closer to him.

The hand on her knee began to move slowly up her leg, beneath the hem of the skirt she was wearing. Her breath stuttered as his thumb traced the crease between her thigh and pelvis, skirting along the edge of her knickers. Hermione broke the kiss with a gasp and Kingsley moved his lips to her neck, his thumb continuing to move closer to her center.

"Kingsley," she whimpered.

"Tell me to stop," he said.

"I, I,-" part of her brain was screaming at her to tell him to stop, that they shouldn't, that she wasn't his Hermione. A much larger part, however, the part that she didn't think she was in charge of any longer, truth be told, was ignoring that and insisting that he keep going.

Kingsley pulled back from her neck, meeting her gaze. "Hermione?"

"Don't stop," she said and then moved back to kiss him again.

They snogged for several minutes, the hand on her thigh coming tantalizingly close to where she wanted it before Kingsley stopped abruptly. She pulled away and stared at him in confusion.

"Are you sure?" he asked. "After your reaction the other night, I need you to be sure, Hermione."

She stared at him for a moment. This was her chance to end this right now. To tell him she wasn't ready yet and go back to her own suite, alone. She opened her mouth to say just that but those weren't the words that came out.

"I'm sure."

Before she could process what had happened, Kingsley had picked her up, her legs wrapping around his waist instinctively.

"Hold tight," he said.

She wrapped her arms around his neck again and he turned, Apparating them to what she knew was his bedroom. The moment they landed, he kissed her again and all rational thought flew from her head. Or was squashed, she wasn't sure which.

Kingsley walked them to his bed, which he laid her down upon. She was panting, staring up at him, wanting nothing more than that hand of his to return to what it had been doing earlier. He smiled down at her and slipped out his shoes and socks before joining her in the bed.

They lay on their sides facing one another as Kingsley kissed her again, his hand indeed returning to her leg, running up under her skirt and settling on her hip. Hermione moved as close to him as possible, rubbing up against him and he groaned. He pulled her leg up over his hip and moved against her, making her gasp.

And then his hands and lips were everywhere. Hermione was a gasping, writhing mess by the time he had her naked and all she'd managed to do was remove his shirt. He stared down at her, desire in his eyes as he unbuttoned his trousers.

"Beautiful," he said as he stared at her, pushing his trousers down and off before doing the same with his pants.

She reached for him and he obliged, covering her with his body and kissing her once more. Then he looked down at her in question, giving her one last chance to change her mind. Instead, she just kissed him again. He lined himself up and slid into her, eliciting a moan from both of them. He held himself still for several seconds before Hermione couldn't stand it anymore.

"Kingsley, please." She wrapped her legs around his hips as he began to move.

Hermione couldn't stop kissing him, kissing his neck and shoulders when she couldn't reach his lips, meeting his thrusts with her own. His hand snaked between them and it took no time at all for her to cry out, gripping his shoulders and leaving marks, she was sure.

He chased his own release, following her with a shuddering groan a few moments later. "Hermione," he whispered, letting some of his weight rest on her.

As they caught their breath, he tried to move off her but Hermione held him tightly, relishing the weight of him and not quite ready to look him in the eye just yet. She seemed to have come back to herself somewhat, more in charge of her thoughts at any rate.

"Love, I'm crushing you," he said after a few moments.

She finally allowed him to move and he smiled down at her, moving a curl behind her ear. Hermione nuzzled into his hand and he moved off of her, pulling her to his side as he grabbed his wand and cast a contraceptive charm and then a cleansing charm over both of them, afterward directing the blankets up to cover them.

She rested her head on his chest, while he ran his fingers lazily up and down her arm.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes," she answered because she was fine, physically anyway. More than actually.

He moved slightly so he could look at her. "Are you sure?"

She finally met his eyes and realized that he looked very unsure. And after their discussion the other night, it was no wonder. She didn't want him to feel like he'd forced her in any way because he definitely had not. And while she still wasn't sure who had actually given him the go ahead, her or the other Hermione, she wasn't complaining about anything that had happened. Merlin, how could she? It was quite possibly the best sex she'd had in her life.

"I'm positive," she said with a smile, then leaned up to kiss him again.

When she settled back onto his chest, he hugged her more tightly to him and dropped a kiss to the top of her head. "Stay?"

"Yes," she replied and drifted off to sleep to the sound of Kingsley's steadily beating heart.

18 July 2003

When Hermione awoke, it was to soft kisses along her shoulder, Kingsley spooned behind her. His arm was wrapped tightly around her middle and she could feel him hard against her backside. Her breath caught as he placed a kiss at the juncture of her neck and shoulder.

"Good morning," he rumbled behind her.

"Morning," Hermione managed as the hand around her middle began traveling south. Her back arched slightly as his fingers found their target.

She reached back and wrapped an arm around his neck, then managed to turn her head enough to kiss him. The angle was awkward though and as much as she was enjoying what he was doing, she wanted to kiss him properly. Turning in his arms, she did just that, his hand moving to cup her bum and pull her closer to him.

She heard her own voice in her head telling her to stop this immediately, that once was one thing, but twice was quite another. But there was another voice, sounding, not surprisingly, also like her own, that told the first to shut up and let her get on with things. Hermione chose to listen to the second voice. Or maybe she didn't have any real choice in the matter at all. She didn't quite care at the moment.

Kingsley rolled to his back, pulling Hermione on top of him. She broke the kiss and sat up, straddling him, and his hands moved to cup her breasts. Sliding back, she positioned herself and then sank down on him. They both groaned as she began to move.

A few minutes later, Kingsley sat up, their chests flush as he kissed her again. He thrust up into her as she continued to move. His lips moved to her neck and one hand snaked between them, bringing her expertly to the edge. His mouth moved back to her lips and he swallowed her cries as she fell over the edge. A few more thrusts and he followed, throwing his head back and calling out her name.

Hermione slumped against him as they both regained their breath. He smiled lazily at her when she finally raised her head and then kissed her languidly. "I have to say that I quite prefer this kind of start to my morning."

Hermione laughed and kissed him once more. "I can't complain either."

Kingsley summoned his wand, casting another contraceptive charm.

"I thought the whole purpose of the marriage law was magical babies," she said with a smirk.

"We've got five years, love. I'd like to have you to myself for a while." He studied her face, then frowned. "Unless you don't want to wait. I should have asked."

"No," Hermione said. "I am very much not ready for children just yet."

Kingsley smiled again. "Good." Then he kissed her. She felt him slip from her and he cast a cleansing spell nonverbally without breaking the kiss.

When they parted, he sighed. "While I'd like nothing more than to spend the day in bed with you, I have to get ready for work, unfortunately."

He kissed her quickly and then shifted her off his lap and back to the bed. Hermione admired the view as he walked towards the loo. He looked over his shoulder when he reached the doorway and winked. Once he'd closed the bathroom door, Hermione flopped back on the bed wondering what the hell she had just done.

She'd had breakfast with Kingsley and he'd kissed her rather thoroughly before he went through the Floo to the Ministry. Hermione had immediately gone back to her suite and thrown herself face first onto her bed. This was not how this was supposed to have gone. She was supposed to figure out some other way to use the Universe Hopper and leave here without sleeping with Kingsley, or even kissing him for that matter.

Not that she was complaining about either of those things. The man knew exactly what he was doing. Merlin, did he know what he was doing. She pushed back against the thoughts creeping into her mind about just what and where they could continue when he got home. It was not going to happen again.

She heard laughter in her head again and flipped over onto her back, staring up at the canopy above her. In the last universe, she'd done a few things she hadn't intended but she'd never felt like there was someone else in her head. Which was odd considering she was in someone else's body and, if Luna were to be believed, the other person was still there as well.

Here, though, it was almost as if the other Hermione had taken over at times. With Neville, she'd felt like she might have…permission for lack of a better word, while here it was like the other her was directing some of her actions and forcing her to say or do things. Well, not forcing, exactly, Hermione knew she could have stopped things if she'd really wanted to. But she felt like she was definitely being strongly encouraged to take things as far as she had.

Which made her think that her other self was experiencing the same things that Hermione was. She wondered why it was different here, stronger than before. Maybe it was just the situation. Neville and the Hermione of that universe had been together for many years. They loved one another and were comfortable with one another.

Here, Kingsley and the other Hermione were newly married and just at the start of trying to figure out how they worked as a couple. It was obvious that the other Hermione had some feelings for Kingsley, even if they were just physical in nature, although Hermione didn't really think that was all it was. She was sure that Kingsley felt something for her as well. She thought that she, her other self rather, and Kingsley might grow to love one another and that it might not take all that long. It made sense that this Hermione would want to explore that.

She was happy for the other her if that were the case. Kingsley was a good man. Which led her to the Kingsley in her world, also a good man and, as far as she knew, unattached. He wasn't married at any rate and if he were dating someone, he was doing an excellent job of keeping it a secret. And as Minister, she didn't think that would be very easy to do.

Hermione tried to imagine getting back to her own universe and pursuing Kingsley. How would she even do that? She didn't have any day-to-day contact with him, even though she worked at the Ministry. She saw him infrequently at Ministry events and Order get togethers. It's not like she could just send him an owl or walk into his office and invite him to dinner. Well, she supposed she could but she wasn't sure she could. Despite the fact that she now knew what he looked like naked, he was still the Minister of Magic. She blushed beet red at that thought.

How would she possibly explain asking him on a date? She'd met Kingsley when she was fifteen and had never given him any indication she had any kind of interest in him beyond friendship, even once she had come of age. Not to mention the field day that the press would have with it. And there was the age difference too. It didn't bother Hermione but she didn't know how Kingsley would feel about it without a marriage law to force him to marry.

Why was she thinking about this anyway? It's not like her sole mission should be to figure out who she really wanted to be with in her own universe. She'd still have to break things off with Ron in any case. Not to mention that she had to get back to said universe before any of this even mattered. She hoped that Padma would have another idea when she saw her today.

Sighing, Hermione sat up and forced herself to the loo. She needed to shower and get ready for her meeting with Frances Marsh, the editor.

Hermione stepped from Padma's fireplace a few hours later. Padma had lunch ready for them once again and Hermione smiled at her gratefully. She'd only spent about an hour with Ms. Marsh and had spent the next hour walking around London, thinking about a lot of things but especially the Universe Hopper and jumping again. She'd shed a few tears, even though she thought she'd cried about it enough, but she missed her friends and her parents and her job. She missed her Padma and her Harry. She wanted to know what was happening with Harry and Ginny. Hermione felt like she'd abandoned her best friend in the middle of a crisis and she hated that she wasn't there for him.

"How was the meeting?" Padma asked.

"A bit exhausting to be honest," Hermione said with a sigh, dropping onto one end of the couch. "She wants me, or the other me, to write a book about the war."

"I figured," Padma said.

"She was a bit annoyed that I wouldn't answer all her questions. Partly because I don't know the exact events here and partly because there are some things that can't be mentioned."

"Horcruxes," Padma said knowingly.

Hermione glanced up in surprise, then realized that it made sense that Padma knew about it. Her Padma did as well, most of the Unspeakables probably did.

"Exactly," Hermione said. "I don't know how my other self feels about it but I could never write a book about the war. Not now at least. It's still too soon, you know? And I can't imagine with everything that's happened here with the marriage law and all, that the other Hermione would want to dredge all of it up either."

Padma nodded. "Even not being close friends with her, I don't think she would. Plus, she's married to the Minister of Magic. I would think there would be some kind of, I don't know, protocol surrounding that."

"I mentioned that. Ms. Marsh seems to think that since we weren't married during the war, or even romantically linked, that it shouldn't matter. I'm sure that Kingsley's staff would have something to say about that. I'm actually kind of surprised the other me took this meeting. She had to have known what the woman would want."

"Maybe the other Hermione had ideas she was going to put forward instead."

"Maybe," Hermione said. "Well, I'm sure Ms. Marsh would be more than willing to have another meeting if that's what the other me wants." She leaned forward and took a sandwich from the plate on the table. "Anything new on your end?"

"I've been thinking about the disc in the center."

"What about it?"

"Well, you've never done anything to manipulate it, have you?"

"I haven't," Hermione acknowledged.

"We know that it's both the time sand in the Time-turner, as well as the charms placed on it that makes it work. That's why the hourglass with the sand is what's turned when you use a Time-turner. But you haven't turned that center disc on the Universe Hopper. It may be less important as it's not as big as the hourglass in the Time-turner and doesn't contain as much sand. But this sand is also different, so it could be that it doesn't require as much to operate."

Hermione pulled the box with the Universe Hopper from the pocket of her robes. She opened it and studied the device inside.

"I know I haven't really come up with much, not like the Padmas of the other universes," Padma said.

Hermione looked up at her. Padma looked almost embarrassed. "That's got nothing to do with you. There isn't a whole lot left to work with, truth be told. You've double-checked the rune and symbol work. If there's nothing wrong with those, the rings and the disc are really all that's left. What do you think I should do?"

"Honestly, there are quite a few possibilities. Turning the rings in the opposite direction, setting them the same you have been but turning the disc, leaving the rings alone and just turning the disc, turning the rings opposite and turning the disc." Padma shrugged.

Hermione sighed, looking down at the Universe Hopper again. "If Rookwood really did invent this, he's more brilliant that anyone ever gave him credit for."

"It's too bad he used that brilliance to follow a megalomaniac," Padma said bitterly.

Hermione nodded.

"What do you think you're going to do?" Padma asked.

"I'm not sure but I need to do it soon," Hermione said, then colored as she thought of why.

Padma's eyebrows rose. "Any particular reason? Besides, the obvious, of course."

Hermione bit her lip. If this had been her Padma, she would have spilled everything immediately. But it wasn't. This Padma and this Hermione weren't even friends. Still, she really wanted to talk to someone about it.

"Do you know anything about possession?"

Padma frowned. "Is this about you taking over the other Hermione's body?"

"Yes."

"I don't know a lot about it, it's rather rare, as you know."

"I just," Hermione shook her head. "Okay, in the last universe things…happened with Neville and I felt horribly guilty about it. I talked to Luna and she pointed a few things out to me and made it seem that if the other me had really objected to what I was doing, she would have been able to stop me."

"Do you believe that?"

"I don't know," Hermione said with a sigh. "I mean, it certainly made me feel better so a part of me thinks that's why I accepted her explanation. But at the same time, it made sense too, you know? And this time, it's been different."

"Different how?"

Hermione felt her cheeks heat. "The other Hermione and Kingsley had only been married a few weeks when I got here, as you know. They hadn't really, well, they hadn't done anything yet. And I was relieved about that because it meant I had a perfect excuse not to do anything physical. But I think the other me had different ideas."

"Did she take over?" Padma asked in confusion.

"I'm not positive, and not like you're thinking, but I definitely felt like I wasn't in control of everything I said and did."

"How do you mean?"

Hermione didn't think she could get any redder than she was. "I mean that when Kingsley asked me if I was sure I wanted to sleep with him, I intended to put a stop to things. But what came out of my mouth was 'I'm sure'."

Padma stared at her for a few moments. "Hermione, are you, do you mean that he, well, that you feel like you were raped?"

"No!" Hermione said immediately, horrified that was what she had implied. "Absolutely not, no."

"But you said that you intended to put a stop to things," Padma said.

"Yes, but not because, well," she reddened again and her voice dropped to nearly a whisper. "Not because I didn't want to."

"Because you didn't think you should," Padma said.

Hermione could only nod. Gods, what kind of person did this make her? That she'd slept with her other self's husband, twice, and wanted to do it again. Not to mention everything she'd done with Neville in the last universe. She buried her face in her hands, unable to meet Padma's eye.

"That would mean that the other you can still see, hear, and feel what's going on, I'd imagine," Padma said, seemingly unaware of Hermione's crisis of conscience. "Fascinating."

Hermione looked up at her incredulously.

"Sorry," Padma said, blushing a bit herself. "I don't mean to discount your feelings about all of this."

"No, I, well, it is rather interesting from an academic point of view. I just, I don't understand why it's been stronger this time."

"Maybe the circumstance?" Padma suggested. "In the other universe, Hermione and Neville had been together for several years. In this one, this Hermione and Kingsley are just discovering things about one another, so she's more forceful about what happens."

Hermione nodded. "I did have that same thought. That's probably it, I guess."

"I understand your guilt, I do. But if the other Hermione can influence you that way then perhaps you should give yourself a bit of a break about it."

"Even if I thoroughly enjoyed myself?"

Padma laughed. "Look, if she could influence you enough to get you to do something you weren't intending, had, in fact, actively planned not to do, don't you think she could have also stopped you from even starting? Why would she try to get you to do something she didn't want you to do?"

"I suppose so," Hermione said, chewing her lip in thought. Still, it was extremely difficult not to feel guilty about it.

"Are you thinking of leaving now?" Padma asked.

"No, not yet. I mean, it will be soon, definitely. But I need to write the other me a letter and leave from home. It will be less disorienting for her that way. Plus, I've got to decide exactly what I'm going to do differently this jump."

Padma nodded. "I'm sorry I couldn't be more help."

"You've helped plenty," Hermione said with a smile. "Thank you."

Both women stood, looking at one another.

"This is so strange," Padma finally said. "To think that I'll never see you again."

Tears immediately sprung to Hermione's eyes. It was getting harder every time to leave people she'd gotten close to, even if they weren't her people. Especially when there was no way of knowing what happened to them after she left. "Besides the fact that it actually happened in the first place, that's the worst part about all of this."

And then Padma was hugging her and Hermione was crying silently into her shoulder. When she pulled away, Padma had tears in her eyes too.

"I wish there was a way for me to know if you get home."

"I wish there was a way to know how this whole marriage law thing works out for everyone," Hermione said. "I'd better go. I know you have to get back to work."

"Good luck," Padma said.

Hermione smiled. "Thanks, Padma." And then she stepped into the Floo and returned to Kingsley's home.