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Right Place, Wrong Time?	By : Shan84 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Hermione/Voldemort Views: 7815 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series nor any of the characters from the books/movies. I don't make money from writing this fanfiction.

Chapter List
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A/N: Where we find out how our Heroine ended up in the forties….

…. The year 2000: aka 'the future' or, ahem, Hermione's past…

"This had better be good!" Hermione blustered as she left her office for the day and followed Zacharias Smith down the halls at the Department of Mysteries. "I have a dinner with Ron in less than 30 minutes…" she grumbled as she adjusted her bag and robes.

"Really, Granger! As if I wouldn't be showing you something important… you do know that I am working on a very important project at the moment," Zacharias replied in his usual pompous voice.

"I know you're a great big prat, that's what I know…" Hermione muttered under her breath as she followed her most detested work colleague down the bowels of level nine.

Hermione Granger had been working with the Department of Ministries since graduating from Hogwarts one year after the war had ended. When her three year graduate program came to an end she would become a fully-fledged Unspeakable.

Of course, it was a strange path to take, as many envisaged Hermione taking a job in either Magical Law Enforcement or something related to fighting for the rights of Magical Creatures. But the Department of Mysteries offered Hermione a role she just simply couldn't refuse; research to her hearts content on the most strange and intriguing issues and get paid for it! Hermione loved solving problems, and there was nothing more satisfying than working out some of the wizarding world's biggest mysteries.

Yes, her life was going to plan – just as she wanted. She had an exciting job, great friends and she was sure Ron was about to propose… it was their anniversary dinner after all… and well, doing the washing last week she had emptied his pockets and found the most beautiful diamond ring… Though, Ron didn't need to know that she knew, and she had even been practicing her best 'surprised' face especially for tonight's dinner. So yes, everything was indeed perfect.

Well everything except for having to work with Zacharias Smith, she thought in annoyance as she watched his over-inflated head bobble up and down as he walked ahead of her. Hermione had thought he was bad enough at school, but then she found out he had been put on the same graduate program as her. For the last year and a bit she had had to listen to his never-ending stories of how wonderful he was… at least at Hogwarts he could be avoided! Merlin, he makes Draco Malfoy look humble! She thought in annoyance as he began another long-winded monologue on his latest project…

"You won't believe it Granger, once you see it!" he exclaimed as Hermione rolled her eyes and continued following him.

"Well, what can you tell me about it then?" Hermione caved, her curiosity finally getting the better of her.

"Oh I can't just tell you. It has to be seen," he responded seriously, causing Hermione to click her tongue in annoyance.

"Fine," she sighed and proceeded to follow him.

They continued travelling through the myriad of halls and entrance ways before Hermione found herself standing outside the Chamber of Death.

"Here we are," he announced.

Hermione furrowed her eyebrows. "I didn't know you were working on a project related to this." She said and gestured towards the door.

"Well, with all due respect Granger," Zacharias chuckled, "I have no idea what projects you're currently working on either…"

Hermione huffed slightly, feeling a bit silly for even making the comment considering that they were both Unspeakables in training, and secrecy was the name of their game.

As he opened the door and gestured for Hermione to enter, she couldn't help but feel a cold shiver run down her spine at the thought of being here again. This is where Sirius died, she immediately thought, and protectively wrapped her arms around her middle.

Zacharias looked at her with what seemed like a semblance of concern. "Alright there, Granger?" he asked.

"Yeah, yeah I'll be fine. You have to admit, this place is awfully eerie," she said as she looked around.

The blonde man shrugged his shoulders with indifference. "To be honest, I've been coming in and out of here for the last six months. I guess it doesn't affect me anymore."

"So what have I come to see then?" she asked rather brusquely. The fact that she could now hear soft voices coming from the veil made her feel incredibly uneasy. She recalled that the last time she had been in this chamber, during her sixth year at Hogwarts, only Harry and Luna could hear the voices.

"Well, it's strange really. When I first started coming down here and conducting research, the veil itself had a rather sleek black sheen to it," he explained and Hermione nodded, remembering the colour herself. "As you can see, there is a red tinge to it now," he said, as he gestured to the veil.

"What research are you actually doing on it?" Hermione asked.

"It's research that has been going on forever… I'm basically just continuing on with it. They want to know what is in the actual veil."

Hermione spluttered. "I'm sorry – what?"

He chuckled at her response. "Yeah, it hasn't been easy… especially considering the fact that you can't exactly go off and explore inside it."

Hermione's brow furrowed as she stared at it; surely enough, there was a red glimmer in the veil. "When did this colour change occur?" she asked, absentmindedly stepping closer and looking up in the direction of the dais – her natural curiosity taking over.

"Well it – ah," Zacharias paused, a red tinge on his cheeks, "I tried some spells on it-"

"You did what?" Hermione screeched, interrupting him.

He turned an even brighter red. "How was I to know that any of my magic would affect it in such a way?"

"You can't do that! You can't just 'cast some magic' on something like The Veil, you dolt!"

"Now listen here Granger! We all can't be as perfect as you!"

"It's not about being perfect Zacharias!" Hermione's voice was becoming more high-pitched and shrill by the second. "It's about knowing your magical limits… Merlin, I can't believe you thought you could cast magic on THE VEIL!"

"Well excuse me! 'Miss-I-am-so-smart', I was desperate okay? They are demanding results upstairs!" Zacharias exclaimed, whilst gesturing his hands in an upwards manner.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Well how am I supposed to know how to help you? I assume that's why I am here?" At his nod, Hermione groaned. "What kind of magic did you use on it?" she asked quietly, rubbing her temple in exasperation.

"Well, the thing about that is..." He trailed off and looked anywhere except where Hermione was currently standing in front of him, tapping her foot in annoyance.

"Zacharias Smith, answer me!"

"Okay, okay!" Zacharias held his hands up in surrender. "It's really old magic I found in some notes from previous researchers…"

"Do you have it here with you?" Hermione asked whilst nodding towards the folder he was carrying.

"Yes,” he confirmed, opening the folder and quickly flicking through a number of notes, whilst Hermione checked the time. Merlin! If they didn't hurry up, she'd be late for her own engagement dinner!

Zacharias finally found the particular parchment he was searching for and plucked it out of the folder he was carrying. "Here, I'm pretty sure this is it,” he said as he handed it over to Hermione.

"You're 'pretty' sure?" she asked incredulously.

"Well... yes! I mean it was a rather late night when I went through it… but I'm sure!"

"Just give it here."

Zacharias handed the parchment to Hermione, who quickly scanned it before looking up at him.

"Certainly no accio, is it?" Zacharias tried to joke, but was quickly silenced by Hermione's glare.

"What do you mean by accio?" Hermione asked, a frown line appearing between her brows.

Zacharias stepped up next to her and pointed to a particular line of text. "It's all related to ancient summoning rituals. I thought that maybe I could summon a- "

"Merlin! You weren't trying to summon a person were you?" Hermione yelled over top of him.

"No! Of course not… that's just, well… that's just creepy!" Zacharias blanched. "I thought… you know, considering how long the Ministry has been trying to find out its secrets that surely people would have sent objects into it so I thought I would try something to summon them back."

"Do you have any idea how arrogant that is?" Hermione said angrily. "How can you be so blasé about this?"

Zacharias huffed in indifference. "It's not arrogant! I was good enough to be selected for this program – like you – and I was specially selected to work on this project."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm very sure that as soon as they find out what you've done they are going to be re-thinking allowing you to work on this project."

"Wh-What do you mean?"

"Well, you'll be telling them of course, tomorrow. If you don't, I will," Hermione replied resolutely.

"But I thought you were going to help-" Zacharias began to say, but was interrupted as a vibration suddenly travelled through the chamber, causing them to both spin around and stare back at the Veil in shock.

"Did you feel that?" Hermione asked, as she stared up at the Veil.

"Yeah…" he replied, staring as well, though unlike Hermione, taking a step backwards – away from the Veil.

"Has it done this before?"

"Not that I've encountered."

"Merlin, we really need to tell management then," Hermione sighed.

"We can't! I'll lose my job!" Zacharias panicked. "Can't you at least try something?"

"You just felt how unstable it is! It's a gre-" Hermione had to grab onto Zacharias' shoulder for support as another, much stronger vibration travelled through the chamber. "We need to get out of here!" She found herself yelling in panic.

"I don't-" Zacharias began to say, but the chamber vibrated again, but this time it didn't stop shaking. He shot Hermione a look of panic, who by this time had drawn her wand.

Hermione stared back at the Veil in shock. It was actually physically moving… How the hell did a wizard like Zacharias Smith manage to cause this level of trouble? She quickly turned to Zacharias, who was staring at the veil with terrified eyes. She placed both her hands on his shoulders and shook him hard. "We have to move! NOW!" she yelled over the sound of the stone work in the chamber creaking and vibrating.

Zacharias didn't need to be told twice as Hermione grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the exit. "Move it!" she yelled as she began to run.

They both started to run, their robes billowing out behind them as they bolted towards the door. They were about 10 feet from the exit when a piercing screech shattered their ear drums. Hermione screamed and immediately brought her hands to her ears – falling to her knees. Zacharias fell with her, his face contorted with pain as he felt the full force of the awful noise that was currently emitting from the Chamber.

Hermione looked up and noticed that rubble had started crumble and fall around them, only barely missing them by mere metres. She then looked towards the Veil and noticed that it was shaking dangerously. Merlin! We've only got moments! She looked towards the exit. If they ran now, they would probably still make it. Steeling herself, she removed her wand hand away from protecting one of her ears and winced as the screeching noise shot through her whole body, causing her to grimace in pain. She quickly cast a basic shield to protect them from the falling rubble.

Turning to Zacharias, and noticing him huddling on the floor, trying to protect himself, she would have rolled her eyes if she wasn't in so much pain or actually had the time. Was he a wizard or not? She grabbed Zacharias' shoulder and shook it rather violently, causing him to look up in fear. The noise was too penetrating for her to speak so she nodded her head towards the exit and pulled on him to get up.

He didn't need any further warning or explanation as they both jumped up and began running towards the exit again, Hermione desperately clutching onto his robes and pulling him along to keep up with her, whilst concentrating on holding the shield as rubble fell all around them.

They were so close, so very, very close when she heard it. The explosion immediately took her back to that battle - which she thought she'd never have to deal with ever again. Panic seized her as her steps became more desperate and less agile, her will to live taking over everything else. She turned and looked behind them and almost stumbled as she saw the Veil begin to shake violently as the chamber collapsed around them. Unfortunately, Zacharias immediately noted Hermione's expression and turned as well. Hermione tried to keep them moving, but Zacharias had paused in fear at the sight before them.

"MOVE!" Hermione screeched. "Move! Move! Move!" she yelled; her voice cracking as it tried to carry over the noise around them. Tears began to build in her eyes at her desperation as she pulled at Zacharias, who seemed to have gone into some kind of shock at the sight of the Veil collapsing.

It was all so sudden when the chamber suddenly exploded around them. There was no time to think as they both immediately fell to the ground, next to one another as it all fell around them. Hermione shut her eyes tightly and screamed as her world went blank.

Was there such a thing as pain in death? Hermione thought. She'd always been told that one couldn't feel pain when they were dead. She remembered being nine, and her father comforting her because her Grandfather had just passed away from a long battle with lung cancer…

'He's not in pain anymore,' Hugo Granger had told her, to reassure her that Poppy was happy now and that he was not sad anymore.

It was a similar reassurance she used with Ron after Fred had died; 'No pain, only happiness', she remembered.

Yet why was she in so much pain? Why does everything feel broken? She thought; wincing as the pain became worse as she grew more conscious of her body. Slowly, her senses regained and she attempted to open her eyes. Again, everything stung and she groaned, her throat feeling dry and cracked as she attempted to move her head.

She gradually opened her eyes, yet it took some time for her vision to clear to allow her to take in her surroundings. Looking around, she expected to find herself lying in ruins and rubble, but instead found herself – and Zacharias she soon realised – laying on a smooth concrete-like floor in a dark, completely empty room. Where were they? She felt Zacharias stir beside her and he let out a muffled cough as he attempted to move.

"Ah! You're both awake!" said a feminine voice from somewhere in the room.

Forgetting the current state of her body, Hermione shot up – instantly groaning in pain – trying to work out where the voice came from. Zacharias pushed himself up on his hunches and peered around the room.

"Over here," said the same voice in a friendly, light manner.

Hermione and Zacharias both turned their heads in the direction of the voice. A woman stood off to one of the corners of the room. She was fairly average looking, with long brown hair and a mischievous twinkle in her green eyes.

"Who are you?" Hermione asked – her voice sounding raspy. She instinctively felt for her wand and was nothing short of relieved as she found it on the floor beside her, as well as her beaded bag, which was still wrapped around her wrist.

"Oh, you never mind who I am. That's not really important," she replied.

"Where are we?" Zacharias then asked, his voice just as hoarse as Hermione's had been.

"Well… It seems you both have fallen through."

Even though Hermione was eagerly awaiting the unknown woman's answer, she had had a bad feeling about this, and it was confirmed as soon as she heard her answer… They had fallen through the Veil! Hopeless despair welled inside her. I'm too young to die! Oh Merlin, Ron… Tears began to well in her eyes, though she quickly brushed them away. Now was not the time for hysterics, and Hermione Granger was not – after everything she had ever been through in her short life – about to break down now.

"You mean we're inside the Veil?" Zacharias spluttered, his voice sounding slightly watery.

"Well, that's what your world calls it," she answered as though they were talking about something as simple as the weather.

"B-but I'm too young to die!" Zacharias exclaimed, with a hint of hysterics in his voice. Hermione remained silent, trying to furiously think of a way out… she couldn't, no, she wouldn't be staying here.

"Well I have to admit that you two turning up was rather a large surprise… I mean not that I'm supposed to tell you that but –" she shrugged her shoulders casually, "fate has a funny way of working."

"So you're saying that we're not supposed to be here? In the 'grand scheme' of things, that is?" Hermione deduced with some hope in her voice. Zacharias turned and gave her a hopeful nod.

"No, you're not supposed to be here yet. Though don't tell anyone I told you that," she said in a conspiratorial manner. "I mean, you are lucky that Merlin was busy and I snuck down here instead," she replied as she casually inspected her nails and stepped off the wall, walking towards them.

"Does that mean we can go back?" Zacharias asked, with some excitement mixed with trepidation.

"You want to go back?" She asked, clearly surprised. "Why ever would you want to go back, when you could stay here and start your next adventure?"

"We are most certainly not-" Zacharias began to bluster, but Hermione quickly put a reassuring hand on his forearm and gave him a 'look' before turning to the unknown woman.

"What I think my colleague is trying to say is that… we really need to get back. Our work on earth isn't done…" she said meekly, hoping that her statement wasn't too clichéd.

"I don't know… If Merlin found out, I would be in so much trouble." She said, unconsciously looking around the room as if Merlin himself would suddenly appear.

"But you said yourself; we aren't supposed to be here," Hermione said.

"Yes, that's true… but still..."

"But-!" Zacharias began again, but Hermione elbowed him and sent him a look.

"Please! We need to go home… it's - it's not our time," Hermione pleaded.

The woman looked at the two of them. "If I send you back…"

"No one here needs to know!" Zacharias quickly responded. "If you do it quickly no one will discover us here."

Hermione looked at Zacharias in alarm. She didn't like the idea of this, but then again, if it helped her get back home to Ron, she'd do it.

The woman stood there for a short time and seemed to be looking off into space. Hermione and Zacharias both looked at one another but were too stunned at what had happened to them to actually say anything. Hermione then turned towards the woman, who still seemed to be debating with herself over what to do.

"Please," Hermione said, quietly, "We need to go back."

The woman paused; eyed Hermione and then a sudden glint appeared in her eyes. "Okay. But we need to be quick, before someone else works out what's going on." The look on the woman's face worried Hermione slightly. "Come here." The woman then directed the two of them to walk over towards her.

The two gave another look to each other before slowly walking over towards the woman. When they stopped in front of her, the mischievous look was more prominent in her eyes. Zacharias gave Hermione a quick side-ways glance, almost as if to check if she saw that look too. Hermione refused to look back at him, too scared to risk their return by appearing as anything other than cool, calm and collected.

The woman turned her head and looked towards the blank, brownish coloured wall to their right. Suddenly a fireplace appeared. Hermione's eyebrows rose in surprise. What, were they going to floo back? She thought as she eyed it.

"That's right Hermione," The woman answered and smiled at her. "Why not floo back?"

Hermione gave the woman a shocked look because she had read her mind. The woman simply arched a thin eyebrow in return. "Don't look so surprised Hermione Jean Granger… you think we know nothing about you?"

"Floo?" Zacharias exclaimed, effectively interrupting the moment between Hermione and the woman. "You promise if we go through that, we'll be sent back home?"

"Yes, you'll be sent to where you're meant to be…" the woman answered and sent another 'look' to Hermione, which caused her to furrow her brow in confusion.

Zacharias stepped away from them and walked over and began to inspect the fireplace, lightly placing his hands on the mantel – as if to confirm it was real. He turned and gave Hermione and the woman an approving nod, as if to say he was happy with the fireplace. Hermione still felt rather strange about the whole situation. Where was the drama…? How could sending them back seem to be such an easy decision to this woman? How could it all be so easy? What was the catch?

"Come Hermione…" The woman inclined her head towards Zacharias. "Time to go home."

Hermione knew that she was short of options at the moment, and despite her suspicions, she knew that one of her two choices would be being stuck behind the Veil. Yes, home. Home to Ron. Home to my life. She found a new resolve and stepped forward.

Zacharias was sent first. He turned to Hermione and smiled at her. "See you on the other side?" he asked, without all the usual annoying pomp and arrogance that he always seemed to carry around.

"Yes, see you on the other side." Hermione had little energy to show animosity towards him – despite everything that had occurred could most probably be blamed on him… She tried to banish the nasty thoughts. This would all be over soon. Soon, she'd be back at home with Ron… she might even be engaged. This would all eventually become a distant memory.

She watched as Zacharias threw some powder into the fireplace and followed the woman's instructions. He smiled at her and then turned towards the green flames – exactly like the real world and yelled "Home!" into the floo, just like the woman had instructed. Zacharias immediately disappeared and Hermione instinctively hoped that nothing went wrong.

The woman now turned to Hermione. "Your turn." She smiled at her.

"All I need to do is what Zacharias did?" Hermione asked cautiously.

"Sure." She smiled and threw the powder into the fireplace. Just before Hermione was about to step into the flames the woman placed her hand on Hermione's forearm to stop her. Her hand was unnaturally warm and caused a strange sensation to run through Hermione.

"Hermione, do you see that fate sometimes leads us to different things?" she asked.

"Wh-what do you mean?" Hermione asked.

"I know you, Hermione Jean Granger. I know you think that fate, prophecies and so on are all rubbish." She smiled at her.

"I… " Hermione began.

"It's okay… but just remember… everything happens for a reason. Fate does control it all. Even at times when you think it's all accidental…" And with that, she let go of Hermione's arm and nodded for her to step into the fireplace. Hermione gave her a strange look and stepped into the fireplace. She felt uncertain of her situation and didn't know what to really do. It's not as though she could just stay there… despite the woman's strange words she still had to try and get home…

Closing her eyes, Hermione followed what she had been told to do. "Home!"

…1946: The past, or should we say Hermione's future…

Stupid, stupid, stupid! Hermione thought as she stormed out of Borgin and Burkes. She had only been back in the forties for less than three weeks and was already sick of it.

Tom Riddle. She had stupidly hoped that he wouldn't have been working that day or perhaps she was in denial and just hoping that he hadn't been working there at all? She hadn't mentally prepared to actually run into him. In her time it had been a good couple of years since she had had to think about Voldemort… and it wasn't like she thought about him that much since the war anyway. He didn't deserve thinking about! She thought, angry about having to deal with Voldemort again even though she had essentially already assisted in killing him.

And of course he was perfect looking; she huffed as she walked towards the entrance to Diagon Alley, avoiding eye contact with some of the dodgy looking witches and wizards who hovered around shadier edges of the Alley. She subconsciously touched her own uncontrollable hair as she thought of his perfectly styled inky black locks, and who could forget his dark eyes, tall, lean form and his well-schooled 'Mr Innocent' expression. Yeah! Mr Innocent working in Knockturn Alley! She rolled her eyes. Life was plainly unfair to have made someone so evil, so very handsome.

Seriously, how stupid were people in the forties to have fallen for his little act? Except Professor Dumbledore! She quickly reminded herself. Of course it was easier for her to see through his little act because she knew who he would eventually become… but couldn't they see how cold and calculating his eyes were? And Merlin! What a nosey prat! She huffed noisily, causing a couple of random witches to give her a strange look and then giggle. Hermione simply glared at them, causing them to titter in a disapproving manner at her. Yes, definitely over the forties!

Well at least she would probably never see him again. She had the book now – thanks to Dumbledore – so she was one more step closer to getting home and getting back to Ron. Whose deluminator is now sitting in a display cabinet at Borgin and Burkes… she sighed sadly. Hermione missed Ron, Harry and Ginny especially. She simply had to get home… She still hadn't worked out whether that unknown woman in the Veil had purposely sent her here or something bad had happened. Hermione chose to ignore the constant sinking feeling in her stomach in regards to her suspicions about that woman and concentrate on positive thoughts that she would make it home… to her time.

Making her way down the crowded street, she noted that the Diagon Alley of her time was not that much different to the one she was currently walking through. Many of the same stores existed – as did some other shops she didn't recognise, which had obviously not stood the test of time.

She was staying at the Leaky Cauldron but realised that she needed to find a flat to rent for the short term. Whilst the Leaky Cauldron had surprisingly nice accommodation, Hermione needed her own kitchen and more privacy. She quietly entered the pub and wondered if she should get something to eat or just head upstairs and get stuck into the book. Definitely the book! She thought and made her way towards the stairs.

"Ah, Miss Edwards."

Hermione almost didn't respond to that title – stupidly. It was the actual voice which said it that she recognised so well. Turning around, she saw none other than Albus Dumbledore sitting at one of the tables, kindly smiling at her.

"Professor Dumbledore… Sorry, I didn't see you there," Hermione greeted as she walked away from the stairs and, at Dumbledore's gesture, sat down across from him.

"No need to apologise Miss Edwards, it's not as if you were expecting me now, were you?"

"No, I suppose you are correct. Please Professor, call me Hermione… Edwards is rather hard to get used to," she replied with a small smile as Dumbledore waved his hand at Tom the bar man and suddenly a butterbeer and what appeared to be chicken broth appeared in front of Hermione.

"Very well Hermione," Dumbledore replied, eyes twinkling, and then waved a non-verbal muffliato around the two of them. "I apologise for coming to see you without notifying you first. I merely wanted to check on how you were settling in and how your expedition went at Borgin and Burkes."

"Well I got the book, though Burke conveniently put the price up," Hermione began to say unhappily after taking a sip of her drink. She noted that Dumbledore frowned at this news. "Luckily I had something to exchange." She frowned as she thought of the deluminator. Ron had lent it to her a few months earlier for a project at work… she had simply forgotten to give it back to him and it had sat at the bottom of her beloved beaded bag, which she refused to let go of – even though she didn't carry nearly as much junk in it as she did during the Horcrux hunt. She suddenly wished she had kept all of that junk in it, considering her current predicament.

"I'm sorry to hear that Hermione, despite my requests and the fact that Burke owed me a favour or two... They are not the most reputable wizards I'm afraid. The item you traded… was it very precious to you?" Dumbledore asked with concern.

So Hermione explained what the deluminator was and that it was someone very special who had given it to her. "Professor, I know that I'm not supposed to give much away about the future… but I think you need to go and retrieve the deluminator and keep it with you." She finished with conviction.

"Oh?" Dumbledore quirked an eyebrow in amusement, "Wouldn't you want to go retrieve your own item back?"

"No Professor. I won't say too much more… but you'll know what to do with it when the time comes," Hermione explained.

"Hermione, it sounds suspiciously like a trinket that I am actually working on at the moment… Therefore, it would feel like I was cheating to go and retrieve it. Though I'm not supposed to know this, and I know I may very well be working on pure assumption, but it is rather inspiring to know that I eventually worked it out… I had hit a bump in the road with its development, so if nothing, it has inspired me to keep going with it."

Hermione gaped at Dumbledore, who merely smiled back at her in return. "If you say so Professor. Though unfortunately, I don't see how I would be able to afford to buy it back – considering I only intend to be here for a short while, after all. Not to mention they obviously enjoy skiving people of their money – which I am running out of fast," Hermione said and looked down at her soup.

They sat in silence for some time, Hermione enjoying her chicken soup whilst Dumbledore seemed happy in his own thoughts. Suddenly Dumbledore spoke.

"Have you been able to think much more about your predicament and how to get back?" he asked.

Hermione gathered her thoughts for a moment before answering. "I still can't work out who the woman was… It's got to have been an accident."

"To be rather frank with you Hermione, if I may?" he asked, and awaited a nod from Hermione before he continued, "I still have a couple of theories to research before I can assist in deducing who the woman was… but from your conversation with her I am starting to believe that you being here isn't an accident, as you believe."

Hermione's mouth gaped for the second time in such a short space of time. Dumbledore believed that she was sent here on purpose? "Professor with all due respect… the dangers of messing with time travel-"

Dumbledore held up a hand and Hermione immediately stopped the beginnings of her rant, cheeks flushing a bit. "Yes, I am well aware of the dangers of messing with time travel… but excuse this old man and the curious academic I have become… What if this isn't exactly time travel?" he mused.

Hermione couldn't help but smile, despite her predicament. "Professor, what else could it be exactly? Time Travel seems the most logical answer."

"Having logic is an admirable trait Hermione, but I think you should look outside the box a little," he replied, mirth in his expression.

Hermione tried not to frown. "Well, once we work out who I spoke to; hopefully the book you advised me to buy will assist in finding the answer."

"Yes, but we still have some research ahead of us…" Dumbledore began before taking a sip of the brandy in front of him. "But enough of that for now Hermione, I believe it is just as important to assist you in finding a place to live and a way of earning some kind of income." He smiled kindly at her. Hermione felt her shoulders relax as she took in his expression.

Albus Dumbledore stepped out of the Leaky Cauldron, happy to return the smiles and greetings of many witches and wizards he had gotten to know over the years. And there were quite a few… Adjusting his new favourite robes – bright orange with purple moons and stars - he quickly checked a muggle pocket watch in one of the many pockets his robes afforded him.

Looking at the time, he realised he did, after all, have time to stop in at Borgin and Burkes before heading home…

Author Note: Thank you for reading!
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