Well, here's the next part of the fic. Be happy you got the chapter so quick! ;) As a small note, the chapter has been edited. Not much, so you don't need to re-read it. I mostly re-wrote the dialogs a bit and fixed some mistakes.
Anyway, in this chapter a nice big clue is revealed if you're smart enough to see it. Read in between the lines!
Oh, and to you portkeyers, if anyone of you has time I would need a fellow brainstormer. Not a Beta, but someone who has the time to listen to my ideas and who does not mind hearing me ramble about either Harry Potter or Superman... or those combined. If you are interested, please PM me here on Portkey. My forum-name is the same as my author-name.
Thanks to all of you who reviewed!
A Voice From the Past - Chapter Two
Hermione's eyes opened immediately. She blinked a couple of times before mouth finally formed an `o'. "S-Superman?" she asked incredulously.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Harry couldn't help himself and therefore chuckled softly.
"Alas, Miss Granger I'm afraid not. I'm sure Mr. Potter is quite a super guy, but quite that super."
Hermione's eyes widened. "Harry?"
"Yes, quite so, Miss Granger." Dumbledore smiled. "Now, I'm sure you have some questions on your mind, though I would prefer if we took them privately." His eyes twinkled merrily. "And I'm quite sure Mr. Potter won't mind keeping us company."
Harry shrugged lightly.
"Ah! Then I guess a couple of cups with hot chocolate would be appropriate. It's quite chilly in the corridors during winter, don't you think?" He looked pointedly at Harry.
Harry shrugged again. "I wouldn't know," he replied just as Pomfrey walked back in, a small bottle in her hands.
"I've got too many patients these days. I'm almost out of cleaning potions..." she muttered as she filled a small glass with the clear liquid. "Now, I need you to drink it all," she said briskly as she handed Hermione the glass.
Hermione took the glass and emptied it with one gulp before grimacing. "Ugh! That tasted awful."
Pomfrey took the glass from her hand. "Well, it all can't taste like candy." She lifted her wand, making a small incantation. She nodded, satisfied, when the tip of her wand started to glow white. "Now, I would want you to stay here for observation, but as the Headmaster is insisting on talking with you..." She sighed. "I guess I have no other option but to let you go."
Dumbledore smiled as he thanked her, and nodded to Harry and Hermione to follow him. Harry, not wanting Hermione to walk, easily scooped her up in his arms, not listening to the many protests she shouted.
"Harry! Let me go!" she squeaked. "I have my own legs!" she pounded her firsts on his chest.
Harry shook his head. "You better stop that; you might hurt yourself. And I don't think Pomfrey will be so happy if you manage to break your hand two minutes after she lets you leave."
Dumbledore looked amusedly at them both as he halted in front of the old gargoyle. "Ice mice," he told it simply.
The old statue sprang to life and jumped aside, revealing the old staircase. The trio quickly walked inside before the gargoyle jumped back, hiding the entrance one again.
Well inside Dumbledore's office, Harry finally let go of Hermione and carefully placed her in one of the chairs before slumping down in the chair beside hers.
Hermione glared at him. "I could have walked myself."
Dumbledore smiled. "Now, now, children." He brought out his wand and with a lazy wave, he transfigurated his Santa Clause costume into a more comfortable looking blue robe before secretly transfigurating Hermione's, right now, oversized business suit; into a much reasonable sized school uniform. Smiling, he waved his wand again and a three cups filled with piping hot chocolate appeared. "There. Help yourselves." He waved towards the cups of chocolate.
Hermione carefully picked one of the cups and sipped carefully. "It's too hot..." she mumbled before carefully blowing on her chocolate.
Harry smiled. "Here. Let me." He took the cup from her, and blew on her chocolate before handing it to her again.
She carefully sipped on her chocolate. "Perfect... how did you do that?" she asked, flabbergasted. "Oh, never mind." She turned to Dumbledore again. "What happened? Where -when am I? And why is Harry dressed up as Superman?"
Dumbledore passed his cup of chocolate to Harry. "Would you mind blowing on my chocolate as well?" he asked, his eyes twinkling. Harry shrugged and blew lightly on the Headmaster's cup. "Ah, yes. Much better," Dumbledore said before placing the cup on his desk. He took a deep breath and folded his hands in front of him. "Ah, Mr. Potter's clothing. It's probably the easiest to explain. We were having a masquerade."
"Oh..."
"And for when... You, Miss Granger, has managed to travel five years into the future." His eyes twinkled once again. "Tell me, what is the last thing you remember?"
Hermione bit her lip. "Well..." She stared down into her cup. "I'd just said bye to Harry. He was about to walk into the last chamber to face Snape and I had just helped him with the riddle... I was walking back to Ron and I'd managed to reach the room with the troll. I hadn't noticed it, but the troll had already woken up so it attacked me. I remember I was thrown into the wall... I must have fainted because the next thing I know, I was waking up here."
"Ah. Just as I thought..." Dumbledore rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Now, there's a reason for everything. There's a lesson to be learned here, or else you wouldn't have been sent here, Miss Granger. You're lucky you came here during Christmas. Apparently you will have to stay here until the lesson is learned. In the meantime I'll arrange a private quarter for you to sleep in." He sipped on his chocolate. "You may be excused." He paused. "Oh, and Mr. Potter: A word if you may."
Hermione glanced at Harry who simply winked, making Hermione blush as she walked out from the room.
Harry turned his gaze to his Headmaster. "Yes, sir?"
Dumbledore gazed down at the younger man. "Harry, I have to ask of you not to tell Miss Granger what really has happened. Please stay to the story I gave her, or else the chances of her finding out her personal fact decreases."
Harry nodded slowly. "Yes, sir. I'll tell Ron as well." He rose from his chair as he turned to leave.
"Do so, Harry, do so..." Dumbledore paused. "Oh, and Harry?"
"Yes?"
"Nice costume... I'm sure Hermione liked it very much." He struck out his tongue.
Harry simply stared before sticking out his tongue as well. As he closed the door, he was sure he heard the old Headmaster laugh.
...To be continued...
Well, that's all I have for this time. And before you flame me; the scene where Hermione gets attacked by the troll is not in the book and I know it.
Well, free cookies to all who review! :)
-->