Twisted Roots

Chapter 3: The Strange Misfortune of Hermione Granger, Part Two

Reflecting further on her situation only left Hermione with a bigger headache.  Three days would pass before she finally decided to examine her situation logically.   It was surprisingly easy to put everything she was feeling in a box as long as she could sort out everything else.

After several hours of restlessness, Hermione finally sat up in bed on the morning that she was to return to Hogwarts and leaned back against the wall.  It being too hot to sleep beneath the sheets, she slept in a t-shirt and no panties.  No panties because Mrs. Figg returned with something that (let's be honest) belonged on her great grandmother.  They were bloomers.  It was this that had sent her into a fit of giggles and ultimately helped to bring her out of her depression and back to reality.  At least long enough to take a hard, cold look at her situation.

Wriggling her toes, she allowed herself the luxury of stretching for a little bit and enjoyed the early morning sounds--birds chirping, crickets--and the distant but distinct sound of Mrs. Figg snoring.  She felt a small smile forming on her face as she pulled one knee up to chin and rested her cheek on it.  Mrs. Figg was just simply too sweet, and she was going to miss her straight forward kindness.

The dozen or so bowls of soup littering the room were testament to her thoughtfullness.  

'So Hermione, let's go over what we know.  First, you were last in the Department of Mysteries, in The Room of Time, and a shelf fell.  Most likely it held the time turners.  But you don't recall seeing a time turner.  Then you awaken in the hospital, at St. Mungoe's, where apparently you were brought after somebody noticed a confused witch wandering Diagon Ally.'

She fiddled with her bed spread, 'Then they contact Dumbeldore because you have no identification and can't accept that the current year is 1971.  The general consensus is that you were hexed by some wayward curse and your memory is addled.

'Dumbledore quickly makes it clear that he understands your situation but places a great deal of emphasis on the rules surrounding time travel.  Essentially, he makes it very clear that he cannot help you and the expectation is that you do not do anything to tamper with the timeline this is all made very clear.  He finds a guardian for you and offers you the opportunity to access the Hogwarts Library in order to figure out a way back home.'

Hermione drew her other knee up and pursed her lips, 'Third--some anomaly occurred for this to happen.  Logically anything is possiible but surviving this long--defies everything about time travel.  I should be dead but I am alive.

'And then finally, worse of all, there can be no warnings to people.  Blend in, do not draw attention, and aspire for mediocrity.  Everything you never could do before, so if anything this is just a new kind of challenge.  No advanced courses.  No friendships.  The stakes are too high.'

Hermione reached over for the soup bowl containing broth and took a big gulp.  It was cold, which was fine for her considering the heat was melting her.  Her shirt stuck to her.  

'Basically this is the most terrifying thing to ever happen to date.  Am I cursed?  The level of awful is simply to much.  But on the other hand, I have dealt with odds like this before  Chance of success is low, but the problem is that I don't even know where to start in defining this problem.  And even if I succeed, who knows, maybe I will have the same luck as poor Eloise.'

She felt her lower lip tremble and slammed the bowl down in response.  I am not going to cry.

She flopped over onto her side and stared at the floor, littered with cat hair.  She couldn't continue to take advantage of Mrs. Figg's kindness.  When the school year starts she would figure this situation out quickly.  But geeze, 1971 meant so many people--Harry's Parents, Pettigrew, Sirius and Snape...she would need to avoid them.  At least they were first years.'

Most importantly, keep your blood status a secret.  Times were so dangerous right now, and purebloods could hurt others with so much more impunity.  It just wasn't worth the headache.

Her mind drifted to her friends.  Harry and Ron.  I hope they're safe.

And Ron....thank god she never told him how she felt.  It would just break her heart if he returned her feelings, but she wound up trapped in another era.  Returning as an old woman; it would be too cruel.

'Hang in there Granger,' She muttered, 'Something has to be of help in the library.'

So Hermione is going to attend a new year!  New goals. Hopefully I have established that her goals, and Lucius's goals, could not be more far apart.  

Thank you for the reviews, I did mis post but everything should be in the right place.