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DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter, J.K. does, and she has every right to do whatever she thinks is best for Harry Potter. I just love writing. So sue me. Wait, seriously… don't.
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The rest of the day's classes went by a blur for Hermione and soon, she found herself sitting on her four-poster bed, busy watching the moon's beam enter and retreat playfully through the open window of the Girls' Dormitory.
Perhaps it was because her head had been brimming with so much thought that she lost track of time and things. She barely even noticed the people, especially teenage girls, who had joined her walks to her classes, ate with her during her meals and included her in conversations she couldn't imagine herself being involved in during her own time.
The reason for this was not because they wanted to befriend her or anything. It was mostly for the reason that she somehow belonged to Cole's circle, which was probably the most legendary group she has ever encountered in her life, apart from her own clique, of course.
Though Hermione wasn't her usual attentive self today, she was still aware of the conversations going on all over the place regarding the four. She heard them almost everywhere. Wherever she was, someone would always bring up the subject of one of these four. And because of these incidents, she couldn't help but notice that people regarded them highly as if they walked on water.
Though most of the exchanges were about Cole and Alex, Erin and Shawn had their fair share of praise and recognition in school. As soon as she had heard what she had, she realized almost instantly that Erin and Shawn's kin, Fred and George, had without a doubt passed onto them their talents for mischief and prank-pulling.
As for Alex, having good grades isn't the only reason for his popularity in Hogwarts. Apart from being the Gryffindor Quidditch Team Captain, he was also devastatingly charming with the features of an ideal man flaxen-haired, blue-eyed, tall and broad-shouldered.
She didn't need another reason why almost half the female population in school were attracted to him and were very eager to win the race to his attention.
On the other hand, however different and icy Cole was, his fame also bordered on the same reasons that Alex has for his recognition, but with a subtle difference. While Alex exerted self-confidence and gregariousness, Cole depicted guarded reserve and skepticism, which made him even more enigmatic. His unusual mannerisms inadvertently caused the other half of the female population in Hogwarts to decide in going from just a race to a challenge by aiming for him instead.
Intertwined with her deep thought was a happy feeling that made Hermione smile slightly in pleasure. The thought that a hundred years from her own time her friends' marriages would generate progenies that were as exceptional as the ones she had met was enough to make her grin.
But then, it seemed that fate wouldn't allow her even just one second to take pleasure in the moment. Her smile was swiped away from her face as she was suddenly reminded of Harry and who his future wife would be. Pain hit her instantly as an immediate name came to her mind and she had to bite back the tears that were forming in her eyes.
It was useless to cry over something that cannot anymore be changed. But Hermione couldn't help but scold herself again for everything that happened all because of irrational thinking.
Why had she been so stupid to think that just by going back in time, her problems would be solved? She should have known that something would go wrong. Changing the past is not a feat she could do without affecting the lives that it had created. This lesson she has known for years seemed to have gone right out the window when she had needed its reminding the most, leaving her to follow nothing but her frail-hidden plan.
And perhaps it was also probably because she thought it would be much easier to do something then than now, that she decided her plan was the best there was.
But among other things, she knew that the main cause for her trouble is because she was just too stubborn and naïve to accept that fate, itself, was separating her from Harry and that no matter how much she tried to change destiny, chance would always keep them apart.
Hermione choked back a sob. By the look on what was happening, there was no hope in having the chance to tell Harry her feelings. And even if it pains her to say, he's better of with Cho. `I don't deserve him.' She thought. She never did and never will.
"My timing's not right at all, is it?" Someone suddenly said from behind her.
Hermione turned around in surprise and gasped slightly. "This is the Girls' Dormitory. How did you--" She was about to ask when she remembered that she wasn't supposed to know that rule and said instead, "Are you even allowed up here?"
"Before, no. But rules have changed. The Head Boy is already allowed up here as well as the Head Girl's permitted up in the Boys' Dormitory." Cole explained nonchalantly, approaching her bed. "So, I think the question you're looking for is `why am I here'."
For a moment there, Hermione forgot what she was thinking about, as well as the tears that were still glistening in the corner of her eyes and on her cheeks. All that was suddenly registered in her mind was Cole's unnerving approach and conceited stance that were fascinating as well as intimidating in every way. Recovering from her reaction, she muttered. "Why are you here then?"
Cole shrugged and instead of walking over to her, he went to the window and sat on the ledge, crossing his arms. "I just wanted to apologize." Then he blinked. "You might--uh--want to--" He stopped in mid-sentence and gestured a hand crossing the side of his face.
At this hint, Hermione found herself blushing and quickly wiping her tear-streaked face with her fingers. When she was sure her face was already free from any trace, she faced him with questioning eyes. "Apologize for what?"
He shrugged again while looking at Hermione intensely. "For acting stupid last night and today."
"It's ok." She found herself saying after a split second, and then she forced herself to remove her gaze from Cole's. If it weren't for his brown eyes reminding her that he was not her best friend, she would have believed that she was having this conversation with Harry.
It took her a moment to realize that he hadn't replied. But then, when he did, his question caught her off guard, making her want to raise a brow at him. "Why were you crying?"
Hermione nearly laughed out load as she realized how Nicholas Potter was in a dire need of being reminded that their relationship wasn't even close to friendship yet and asking a personal question such as the one he had given was not right at all.
"I just remembered something." Hermione said, managing to tell the truth without giving out her definite reason.
Not buying her elusive reply Cole urged again. "What about?"
She gaped at him and asked. "Why are you asking?"
"Just--curious." Cole said with added shrug.
She took a deep breath, stood up and placed her hands on either side of her hips. "I know this may sound rude but what makes you think I'm about to tell you what I'm going through? I hardly know you."
He held up his hands and said in a casual manner. "It's the least you can do for what I did yesterday."
"That reminds me," Hermione spoke imperceptibly and tried to relax, getting rid of her officious stance. "Thank you for coming to my aid."
Her words surprisingly made Cole give out a deep and genuine laugh. "Nice try, but you already thanked me. I'm not going to be sidetracked, if that's what you're trying to do. The only way you can make me shut up is by telling me the truth."
Hermione sighed heavily and looked at him, pretending to be as laid-back as he was. "What makes you think what I remembered was something serious? For all you know, I was just being sappy."
"You might have been, but you weren't." Cole analyzed her accurately. "Because you wouldn't be lying if your problem is anything but serious." He paused and began to scrutinize her again. But when he saw the way she was looking at him, he nodded and finally gave up. "Ok. I'm sorry. I'll mind my own business--for now."
Hermione opened her mouth to object when Cole suddenly asked again out of the blue. "How come you know the countercharm for the Dredoneum Curse?"
"The countercharm?" Her brow furrowed, and then she shook her head. "The one I used wasn't the countercharm for the curse. It's a spell I read from a book."
Cole nodded and scratched his head. "From what book?"
Hermione pretended to think; all the while conjuring an idea to play a prank on him. Smiling an innocent smile, she tried to speak in what she tried to sound like an apologetic tone. "I can't remember the title."
Cole shrugged. "That's not a problem. You know the incantation; just tell me what it is."
Hermione bit her lip and acted as if she was trying to recall again. Then, giving him a siren's smile, she told him. "I forgot."
"But you just used it this morning." Cole frowned in disbelief. "How can you forget?"
Hermione shrugged like the way he did a few minutes ago and quoted the statement he threw at her the day before. "I don't know. I seem to have short term memory loss or something."
From the look on his face, Hermione was sure that Cole had remembered where she got the line from and if it weren't for him wearing a scowl, she would have sworn he had been biting back a smile. "Fine. Have it your way."
Then he looked at her for an extremely long time; his intense eyes making her feel awkward in every agonizing second that passed. After which, without even a prelude to what he was to say next, he muttered. "There's something about you that I just can't understand. And just to let you know, it's starting to bother me."
Silence.
"How can it?" Hermione asked softly.
"I don't know--" Then he straightened up and walked past her toward the exit. But before he opened the door or even offered a `good-night', he finished first what he wanted to say. "And that's what scares the hell out of me."
With a tilt of his head in her direction, Cole yanked the door open and went out, leaving Hermione with something new to think about, which would hopefully distract her from other things.
Unfortunately, her euphoria over her encounter with Cole didn't even last for 5 full minutes because once again she found herself being haunted by her unwanted memories sooner than she had hoped. Too distracted with her own thoughts, it wasn't only a minute later that she became aware of a slight echoing sound coming just outside from where she was.
Thinking that it was only some girls talking, she ignored it and plopped herself on her bed. But before she had the chance to close her eyes and sleep, a muffled sound echoed near her.
Sitting up, she looked around in curiosity more than in fright.
"Hermione."
It had called her name this time. It was indistinct, but definitely hers.
"Hermione!"
There it was again. Except then, every syllable of her name increased in volume as if the person calling out was getting nearer with each moment that passed. She turned her head in every direction and corner of the room, but there was no one there aside from her.
"Hermione!"
It was louder and clearer this time, more distinct and recognizable that she had suddenly realized the voice was bewilderingly familiar. If it would only sound out again, she'll know for sure to whom it belonged.
When she was granted that plea, it didn't take her a while to finally make out who was doing the shouting and the next thing she knew, she had covered her mouth with her hand, suddenly numb with joy.
"Ron!"
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Harry heard Hermione's voice and nearly leapt off his chair. If it weren't for his promise to Prof. Dumbledore that he would keep quiet throughout the conversation with Hermione, he would have immediately asked how she was holding up or if she was all right.
Knowing that he was in love with her made him regard her with a new light and just hearing her voice, seemingly well enough, was all it took to relieve his tensed being.
Up until a few minutes ago, Harry hadn't been so sure if Professor Dumbledore would actually be able to find a way to get in touch with Hermione. He began losing hope as the clock continued ticking.
As he waited edgily, shifting in his seat every so often, countless questions flooded his mind. He couldn't bear to imagine what life would be without Hermione if they weren't able to bring her back.
But just as he was about to lose it, Prof. Dumbledore looked up from the manuscript he was reading from and murmured into the space before them some silly-sounding words. Almost instantly after they were spoken, a thick layer of clouds that was as high as his waist level was formed and began to twirl incessantly.
Before he told them what the fog was for, the old mentor warned Harry not to say anything while they were talking to Hermione to avoid her from asking questions on why he was there.
Understanding it perfectly, Harry sincerely swore to the vow he intended to keep. With all that has been happening--he couldn't afford to break any more instructions given to him, especially if it was a threat to Hermione's safety.
Convinced enough of his promise, Prof. Dumbledore told Ron that he was to call for Hermione through the thin fog and if the spell had worked, she would be able to hear them no matter where she was and would be the only one who can.
"How did you--?" Hermione's voice reverberated from across the room; her confusion that was bordering on skepticism was practically marked by her indecisive tone.
"There's no time for that now, Hermione." Ron disregarded her question with an impatient timbre. Then his voice changed as he said. "First, we have to find a way to get you out of there--" Then he paused, perplexed. "Where is `there' anyway?"
"I'm a hundred years away from our time." Hermione said automatically, as if she had been waiting for that question to be asked for a long time.
Ron's mouth formed an `o', then, he looked at Prof. Dumbledore with amazement and absentmindedly said. "That's why it worked, professor! She's not a millennium away, just a hundred years. Wicked!"
"Wait, wait!" Hermione's voice interrupted his elation, sounding alarmed, disbelieving and livid all at once. "Prof. Dumbledore?"
Ron's eyes suddenly widened as it dawned on him that Hermione had heard everything he said. Looking like he had just eaten one of Hagrid's rock cakes, he gulped out a reply. "He's here."
Hermione gave a shriek that nearly sent them scurrying for cover. "What? Why?"
"Because I asked for his help--" Ron explained uncertainly in a surprisingly soft voice.
"Then--then--he knows?" Hermione asked, referring to everything that happened including the reason why it did.
"Uh--pretty much."
Silence.
"Look. I didn't have a choice, Hermione." Ron said, feeling slightly ill at ease as he sensed Harry and Dumbledore listening intently. "I didn't have any idea on how to get to you." An anguished sigh. "If you remember correctly, I told you yesterday, before you decided to drink the potion without me, I was no good in any spells without you helping me out. So don't blame me about having no other choice but do what I did."
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry." A wince was heard at the other end of the connection. And then, "Is he there with you?"
"Who?"
"Dumbledore, of course." She said exasperatedly, with Harry knowing very well by the way she had spoken that she had just rolled her eyes. "Who else are we talking about?"
"I thought it was Har--"
"I'm here, Ms. Granger." Dumbledore spoke up before Ron could reveal anything confidential. Ron shifted uncomfortably in his seat, realizing full well what might have happened if he had been able to finish his sentence, while Harry breathed a quiet sigh of relief as he sagged on his chair.
"Prof. Dumbledore." Hermione breathed out, her voice wavering. "I'm so sorry."
"Desperate times call for desperate measures." Dumbledore alleged cleverly and sympathetically. "But, Ms. Granger, I won't be wasting our valuable time by imposing on you the seriousness of your actions. I trust you enough to know that you are already aware of your fault."
"Yes, sir. I am."
"Well then, a more important question right now is your condition. How are you holding up?"
"I'm--quite all right." Hermione answered back, sounding hesitant, giving Harry a considerable feeling that she was lying, which made him feel even worse.
From the sound of Dumbledore's hesitant but compliant voice, Harry knew the headmaster, too, had second thoughts of Hermione's condition. "Very well. Now that we are assured of your state, let's begin with evaluating the costs of what you have done."
"Costs?" Hermione asked, confused and frightened by the sound of what he said.
"Upon reading the book you have acquired, I assumed that you have overlooked a number of pages in your haste to finish the potion, which was a dreadful mistake, because some of them contained very important facts that you should have read."
"In more than one of these pages were verses given about the possible outcomes of the potion you made." Then a very brief but profound pause. "I'll read two of the most relevant to what happened and could happen to you." He then turned a few pages and began to read with not only Hermione, but also Ron and Harry, listening intently.
"Take heed of this warning,
And reader beware.
If once you've traveled,
And ended up elsewhere.
This potion is permanent,
And cannot be reversed.
Unless the person made a mistake,
And his mind averted in terse.
To concede assistance from others,
To go back where you had come from,
Is not permitted by this enchantment,
But only those from the place you call home…"
"May I interrupt, sir?" Hermione asked, the quiver in her voice depicting the terror she was feeling and the shivers that were making their way through her body were telling her how much she didn't want to say what she was to say next. "Does this mean you can't help me?"
"What you have to understand is that there is no way I can help you because I am not there. As I have said before to Mr. Weasley, I cannot meddle with a time that is not my own." He informed her with a tone of regret, and then he continued. "There is still more. Listen…
There is a premonition on the line,
One more concern that is not mine.
You cannot intrude with the plan fate drew,
Without changing its real outcome and accrue.
The future embraces something new,
Marvels never even possibly true.
But think of this when you are there,
How can there be future if your past is elsewhere?
It troubles me to say,
That once comes this crucial day,
Within 168 hours, you are given a try,
To go back in time to close your lie.
But if in 7 days you fail to return,
A tragic knowledge waits your turn.
Your tree of life will slowly be uprooted,
Living its seed of living part of the undead.
Your branches and its fruits,
Would descend back to only the roots.
As past the due line, they befall part air,
As if they will never have been what the family will bear…"
At first, no one was able to speak. Even Harry, who had been nothing but silent throughout the whole time, seemed speechless and was staring into space. But, just as always, Hermione recovered first and spoke shakily.
"Does this mean if I don't return there, I'd be here forever?"
"Yes, that is correct." Dumbledore said gravely.
"And--and--my descendants--will--vanish?" Hermione asked again.
"Correct again." The headmaster said with a sympathetic nod, his eyes grazing over to look at Harry, who was looking so shocked and hurt because of the sudden knowledge of his fate with his best friend.
"And what happens to all of you there? Will you still remember me?" Hermione couldn't stop herself from finding out, just like the way she couldn't help but be afraid of hearing the answer she already knew.
"Everyone you know will forget you and their memories with you will be replaced by new and falsified ones." He supplied slowly, knowing that as of this moment, Hermione was asking herself so many questions that she, even as a smart girl, didn't know how to answer.
"Then, what can we do? I have to go back." Hermione demanded.
"First, you have to know one thing." Dumbledore interrupted her. "You should know that the book you used has no counter potion in it--" And then he paused when he heard her breathe in air.
Knowing her, Dumbledore continued before she could speak. "We can make another time traveling potion, if that's what you're about to ask. But I cannot give you the information with the ingredients and steps for I fear the connection I have established will be broken any time."
This proclamation of the headmaster made Hermione tilt her head to the side and ask. "But, sir…I don't mean to lessen hope, God knows I don't want to, but didn't the book say no one from out of this time can help me?"
"It did. But `helping' this way probably does not count. I suppose the method that the book is pertaining of helping is direct wizardry from a conjurer to return the traveler to his own time. Such as conjuring a spell that would transfer a person to his original period without him doing anything to get out of the trouble he had created. This--" Dumbledore's voice was abruptly cut off.
"Prof. Dumbledore?" Hermione asked aloud, aware that what he had feared about the connection being discontinued might have caused the sudden silence. When he came back, she nearly smiled in relief, but only to frown immediately when she heard that his voice sounded softer and further away.
"The fog is clearing." He said, his voice echoing distantly. "Hermione, listen to me; we are now to lose the connection. We will be able to get in touch with you in a couple of days, perhaps three. I'll try to find a way to make the connection longer so we will have enough time to enumerate to you all that is needed for the potion." A brief pause where only a slight static sound could be heard.
Then she heard a curse in the background that was said by someone who neither sounded like the headmaster nor Ron. She was about to ask who else was there when Prof. Dumbledore spoke in a hasty tempo. "Listen to me; within the time that you are waiting for the reconnection, I want you to think things over. Because only when you have a strong will, much stronger than the one you had when you traveled before, will you be able to return here--"
Before she could ask what more was there to think about, the atmosphere had gone quiet all over again. It was as if nothing had happened. No connection had been established by someone from a different time and Hermione was still in the Girls' Dormitories, seemingly depressed over leaving America.
She didn't know whether to be glad or be more depressed because of what had taken place. It was a relief that Ron and the headmaster knew where she was. But it was also quite as devastating that there was already a countdown ticking for her.
And she didn't know what the worse thing was: the fact that the connection had been broken even before she had the chance to communicate with Harry or the sickening thought that he might not even be aware that she was gone. Feeling terrible than she had before, Hermione she went under her covers and lulled herself to sleep.
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