The Lines

And even though sometimes Hermione would falter occasionally, no one understood a situation better than her.

No one was more determined than her. I have watched Hermione Granger lie at the face of death and make it back alive from the face of danger.
I have watched Hermione Granger throw her first spell faster than I have seen many wizards brandishing their wands.

Hermione Granger has always been a sight to behold. Magnificent, charismatic.

• • •

The Room of Requirement was quiet. Yet at the same time, the silence was deafening. What was a grand comfortable room minutes ago was now alike to a dungeon. The walls were made of damp cobblestone, making the room colder. The lights were now dimmer. Tom's Knights, the Knights of Walpurgis were standing in two separated lines. They had a rough cobblestone bench behind them, but as of this night Tom did not permit them to sit. Tom himself had a seat, at the forefront on a raised platform but he enjoyed looking down on them.

Tom looked down at his followers. Many squirmed under his gaze, others seemed to push back from the spotlight. "I witnessed something interesting today." Tom spoke first, slicing into the thick silence. Many heads turned to his direction. Tom could almost hear their thoughts, the way they wondered if their mistake had been caught. Tom continued without addressing it, "I met a witch today, not a student." Soft, almost indecipherable mumbling broke out.

Alice Carrow raised her hand timidly, "w-was there a break in, My Lord?" She stuttered, not maintaining eye contact. Tom smirked.
"I suppose so. But what was interesting was how she broke in." Tom explained. "I witnessed the witch apparate. Disappear then reappear within seconds." He said, waiting for someone to catch the flaw in his words.

"Apparition within Hogwarts is not possible..." trailed off Dolohov, staring holes into the ground, he did not seem to believe in his Lord.
"I know as much, Dolohov. But I have confirmed myself that she did fully disappear before reappearing. Do you question my authenticity?" He sneered. Dolohov stepped back. "The second time she did so, I was standing in front of her. She became transparent before eventually dissolving. I want all of you to investigate what could have caused this." Tom concluded.

Mumbling broke out throughout the room once more, "as you wish, My Lord." Orion Black spoke with a stoic face. Tom appreciated Orion's ability to maintain composure. Unlike the other Knights who smelled of fear. However, Tom was feeling lenient tonight, so he would not invoke harm onto his subjects now.
"If you understand your task, you may leave." Immediately, the Knights filed out of the door in a straight line. Tom was proud. He had done good work in disciplining the purebloods. First, the next generation of purebloods, next the entirety of pureblood society. They lived an annoyingly long life.

He fell back onto his seat, closing his eyes. He went over the occurrences within the day, allowing sleep to come to him. He did not move from his seat.

• • •

Hermione sat up with a gasp, feeling as if she were about to drown. She turned her head to the side desperately, trying to understand exactly where she was. I can't possibly be in 1945? Her brain reasoned with her. But honestly, she wouldn't know even if it were a totally understandable cause. She had done little to nothing. Of course at first she tried to recreate the pattern, but she never studied it.

Hermione groaned, bothered with her own behaviour. Her groan seemed to catch the attention of the hospital wing matron however, who came rushing towards Hermione. "Oh, you have woken up! I was so worried!" She gushed, shooting different diagnostic spells over Hermione. Hermione squirmed on her bed as the tingling sensation flitted through her body. "Seems like you are doing perfectly fine now! About time I discharge you anyway," she tutted.

Hermione opened her mouth to talk, but was only able to manage rough groaning. The matron handed her a cup of water. Hermione gulped down the water gratefully before speaking, "I'm sorry, Ma'am but how long have I been here?" She asked softly.
The matron looked at her with pity, "about your sixth day here." She patted Hermione's hair down. Hermione nodded, feeling bile rise up her throat. Though she would prefer to not throw up on an empty stomach.

"If you feel well, the Headmaster wished to have an audience with you immediately." The matron spoke gingerly. Hermione nodded miserably. So much for sneaking out without garnering much attention. "And call me Madam Caligula." She added, before taking off for the Headmaster's office presumably.

But at least she trusted Hermione to not run away. Or perhaps she thinks I can't. Hermione fell back onto her pillows. She turned her head to the side to look for her wand, but was instead met with a card and an otherwise empty table. Annoyed, Hermione reached for the card and opened it.
It read,

Granger,

I found you passed out on the bed. Pretend you do not know me.
Do not tell anyone where you passed out. Pretend you do not know anything about your time at Hogwarts.
This letter will burn automatically in a minute.

- Tmr

Hermione scoffed at the letter. She would love to get him into trouble, but she was worried he might tattle on her in turn. She held up the paper and let the magic flow into the tips of her fingers, burning the paper herself and watching it turn to ashes. Hermione stared at the remnants, before brushing them off her bed with a sweep of her hand. She stared at the doorway with a pout, letting her eyes flutter shut as she waited for the Headmaster.

"Should we return later?" A raspy withered voice broke Hermione's sleep. Hermione shifted, blinking groggily. "We will give you a moment." Hermione barely caught a glimpse of the short man and his long silver hair before he was already out of the door. Madam Caligula fussed over her once more.
"Are you feeling alright dear? Shall we try more diagnostic spells?" She queried. Hermione waved her off.

"It's quite alright, I think. I was just a little bored but I'm okay." She smiled tiredly. Madam Caligula gave her a nod before heading out the door, presumably to call for the man.

She came back seconds later, with the short old man and Tom in tow. Hermione recognised the old man to be Armando Dippet. She tipped her head slightly in greeting, "Good morning, Headmaster." She greeted, though she was not quite sure of the time.
The Headmaster studied her. Hermione straightened her posture under the scrutiny, not quite looking at Tom either.

"Good morning, Miss..." he trailed off. Hermione looked up to him, "Hermione Granger." She provided.
Dippet nodded. "Good morning, Miss Granger. We have got much to go over." He sighed. With a wave of his wand, he conjured a chair and sat down. Tom followed his lead. "May I ask what you were doing at Hogwarts on the 5th of September?"

Even though Hermione was not looking at Tom, it almost felt as if he was drilling holes into the side of her head. Hermione paid the boy no heed. She slipped on a face of defeat, "I apologise for barging into your castle, Headmaster. I heard that no place is safer than Hogwarts." She constructed her sob story with great care and calculation. "So when I f-finally ran away I could not imagine a different place to go to."

Dippet shifted uncomfortably as Hermione broke into real sobs. Tom slipped on a passive face. "You seemed to know who I am." Dippet coughed.
Hermione nodded, "of course. I am sure many magical children would." What do I even say to that without being a suck up?

Dippet sniffled, "can you tell me where exactly did you run away from?" Hermione suppressed a yawn.
"The frontlines in the south. The auror camp I was fighting alongside... I-I don't think anyone made it out from there." She wiped a stray tear from her cheek. "When I did not find anyone left, I ran away." Madam Caligula patted her head, pity evident in her posture.

Hermione offered the matron a weak smile. "How old are you dear? What was your purpose of coming here?" Hermione scrunched her face in pain, feeling her pain fall asleep as the static discomfort took over her.
She bit down on her lip, hard, before she answered. "I just turned 17. I had heard so many great stories of Hogwarts from the aurors that... I simply did not know where else I could go."

Hermione deliberately brought in the frontlines. They would not be able to confirm with them as most of them either sided with Grindelwald after his world class sweet talking or they would be dead. Of course many magical children found themselves stuck helping as well, so it was not an unimaginable scenario. Though Grindelwald had been defeated on the first of September, 1945, Hermione could easily play it off as it had taken a long time before all his followers could be amassed.

Dippet shared a look with Tom, who had instantly eased up as he looked towards the Headmaster, giving him a small smile and nod as if pleased with her answer.

Hermione leaned into Madam Caligula's hand, feeling exhaustion wash over her. "I feel quite ill." She mumbled to the matron, who scurried over behind a screen. Dippet rose from his seat, but this time Tom did not follow his suit.

"Get some rest, dear girl. Tom here will explain certain things to you when you are ready to listen." He smiled at her kindly, though Hermione could not tell if he believed her fully.
Once Dippet left, Madam Caligula brought Hermione a cup full of pills and another cup full of water.

Hermione accepted the pills, though feeling a bit sour about them. She swallowed them down, wishing the effects would show immediately. "I will give you two some space, get some sleep afterwards." She said, before once again disappearing behind the white screen.

Hermione raised her hand, "muffliato." She whispered, barely able to cast the charm. Tom arched an eyebrow at her, "a muffling charm," she explained.
He nodded. "You are quite the actress." Tom smirked. He leaned forward in his seat and put his elbows onto his legs, staring at her with amusement.

"That was one of my best performances." Hermione shrugged. Lying to someone who already knows of the truth will only lead me down. "But I am certain Dippet did not ask you to talk to me about that?"
Tom pulled back, leaning against the backrest. "Of course. Dippet is convinced you are a poor and pitiful child, so he insists you enroll into Hogwarts. He just left me here assuming you would have some things to say to your savior." He smirked. Hermione squirmed around in her bed uneasily.

"I don't want to enroll here at Hogwarts though..." she trailed off. "I don't belong here. Besides, you saw how abrupt that thing is." Tom shrugged.
"I am afraid you would need to tell someone if you wanted to use that as a cover," he told her with horribly masked pleasure. It pisses me off more knowing that he's actually good enough with facial expressions to hide his satisfaction.
"I assume you understand that I cannot tell anyone?" Hermione heaved a sigh, despite knowing the answer. Tom just smirked at her.

Annoyed, Hermione raised the covers and fell back on the bed, covering her head. "Are you throwing a temper tantrum?" Tom voiced.
"Maybe!" She snapped. Tom chuckled but eventually Hermione heard his footsteps retreat. Tears pricked at Hermione's eyes.

Is it possible that I've actually gone back to the future multiple times in between? Since the disappearance in the past only lasts for minutes or even seconds. It would mean I have been unconscious for a really long time in actuality... Hermione swallowed her fear, shutting her eyes and letting sleep take over her. It would be best to find her way back rather than fret. She could not be caught by the ministry, not now.

Whatever messed up game time was playing, Hermione had to go along with it alone.
Whatever time was, whatever time is, and whatever it will be.

Hermione remained in bed the rest of the day, ever the compliant patient to Madam Caligula, who was quite the sweetheart.

Before long, it was nightfall. Though Dippet had not specified when they would work out Hermione's enrolment details, Hermione assumed it was soon. Madam Caligula had already returned Hermione's wand but had yet to serve her a meal. She had also finished her final check ups.

So she was not surprised when the doors were swung open and in came Tom, donning his Head Boy badge. Alongside him was a girl, dressed in Ravenclaw robes and a matching Head Girl badge. "Hermione," Tom smiled warmly. Warmer than he had been towards Hermione during any previous interaction. Hermione swallowed her annoyance and instead gave the pair a tight lipped smile.
"Hello," greeted the girl from beside him, "I am Violetta Evermore." Her smile was much more genuine than Tom's had been.

Hermione nodded at the Head Girl, "I'm Hermione Granger. It's a pleasure." She swung her legs off the side of the bed, sticking them into her sneakers. Violetta and Tom remained standing by the door. Hermione shot the pair an inquisitive look.

Tom was the one to answer to her, "Dippet has called for you. He hoped to introduce you to the students before dinner." He smirked.

Hermione faltered, "but I have not been sorted yet." She frowned.

Tom offered her a charming shit-eating grin, "of course, all sorting takes place in the Great Hall before dinner time." Hermione's hands itched to slap the look off his face. For someone who had been so... angry the last time they met, he was awfully humorous. Hermione scowled. Violetta offered her a sympathetic look, but did not speak.

Madam Caligula walked into the Hospital Wing, looking bright and chirpy. "Leaving? Take care, dear." She smiled, holding Hermione's arm whilst she stretched her legs.

The three were on their way down to the Great Hall soon enough, walking in awkward silence. "What house do you think you will be sorted in?" Violetta chirped.

Hermione pretended to ponder over the question, though she was confident she would be sorted into her home, Gryffindor. "I think Gryffindor." Hermione answered after a few beats of silence.
Violetta formed an 'o' with her mouth, "no chance of being a Ravenclaw?" She asked brightly, grinning.

Hermione shrugged, smiling back, "I just might be a Ravenclaw."

Tom cleared his throat, "alright, when we walk in, you should walk up to the front where Headmaster Dippet is seated. The two of us will go to our respective tables." He explained briefly.

Hermione nodded as they took the final turn to reach the grand doors of the Great Hall. They towered over Hermione's small frame. The hall was lively, laughter and gossip flitted through the air. As per Tom's explanation, Tom walked to the far right hand table where the Slytherin's were seated. They were notably quieter than the other tables, their seating arrangement gave Hermione the mental imagine of highschool clique's. Violetta on the other hand walked towards the left, to the Ravenclaw table. The Ravenclaw table seemed to be the exact opposite of the Slytherin's. Lively, noisy and everyone seemed to be interjecting in different conversations.

Hermione exhaled deeply, before walking down the middle towards the teachers table's. Dippet seemed to have noticed her as he got off his seat and made his way over to the centre. He waved his wand, conjuring a podium to stand in front of. Hermione climbed onto the raised platform and stood in front of Dippet, who waved her to his side.

"Students," Dippet bellowed, instantly catching the attention of all the students. Hundreds of eyes were trained on Hermione, but she was determined to not falter. "Today, I am introducing a new student." He sounded solemn, "as many of you know, our Head Boy rescued a girl." He motioned to Hermione, whose stomach lurched distastefully.

"This is Miss Hermione Granger. I will keep her personal life's details exactly that, personal." He stared down at them, "I expect all of you to welcome her. Dinner shall commence after the sorting ceremony." He stepped back, going back to his seat in the Professors' table.

Hermione stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to do. But she was determined to not let her nerves show. Within seconds, a different Professor conjured a high stool from behind Hermione, which she took a seat on easily. The teacher placed the ratty Sorting Hat atop her head with a fell swoop.

'What do we have here?' The Sorting Hat's amused voice broke into her thoughts, 'quite interesting...' it mumbled.
Hermione remained rooted to her seat. She did not have a preference. For all she knew, she would be out of here within the hour.
'You have got yourself in quite the predicament, haven't you, Miss Granger?' The Hat's laughter echoed in her head.
'I am a Gryffindor, please just get it over with.' Hermione thought miserably, disliking the looks she was receiving.

The Hat seemed to ponder over Hermione's words, 'oh but your ambition is like no other and my how clever you are to get yourself out of these situations... your resourcefulness that won you the second wizarding war. It must be,' Hermione raised an eyebrow, "SLYTHERIN." The Hat bellowed, leaving Hermione dumbfounded. Cheering broke out through the Great Hall, though not quite lively as it would have been. Hermione's housemates were staring her down like bloodhounds, as if they could smell the mud in her blood.

"Go to the table on your left, dear," the Professor instructed. Hermione looked up to word her thanks but felt herself falter. In front of her stood Harry's old mentor, the future Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. Though his long white beard and hair had been switched out with much shorter auburn ones. His face looked a lot less tired and much younger, though there was a certain sadness in it which Hermione did not recall it holding previously. Hermione nodded at him, unable to formulate words.