Unique (Hermione x M! OC)

28. Back to the... Past?

(A/N: Sorry it's late, I just got in. I was at a party.  Enjoy the chapter!)

When Snape brings Harry in, we'd just finished actually telling Ron that we'd been together for -- like -- two days, and he said he called it. He's right, then he went on to tease me about saying she was like a sister to me. Kinda regret that at this point. When Snape brought Harry back, he was unconscious and Snape informed us that Black had been found and handed over to the dementors. That was about fifteen minutes ago, and thankfully, Harry's eyes flutter open.

"I saw... I saw my dad."

Hermione meets him, "What?"

"He sent the dementors away. I saw him across the lake." Hermione and I share a look.

"Listen Harry, they've captured Sirius. Any minute, the dementors are gonna perform the kiss."

Harry jumps up, "They're gonna kill him?"

"No, it's worse, much worse." She whispers as Harry stops to look at her, "They're gonna suck out his soul." Dumbledore enters hurriedly, "Dumbledore, you've got to stop them! They've got the wrong man!"

"It's true, sir. Sirius is innocent." Harry agrees.

"It's Scabbers who did it." Ron adds.

Dumbledore frowns, "Scabbers?"

"He's my rat, sir." Ron explains, "He's not really a rat. He was a rat, he was my brother Percy's rat, but then they gave him an owl..." Aaaand he's rambling.

"Point is," Hermione interjects, "we know the truth." The room comes to silence as she takes my hand. "Please believe us."

Dumbledore places a hand on Hermione's shoulder. "I do, Ms. Granger." His voice is wise and kind, "But the word of four thirteen year old wizards will do little to convince others, no matter who they are." He walks towards Ron, "A child's voice, however honest and true, is meaningless to those who have forgotten how to listen." As he speaks, he pats Ron's leg twice both times resulting in a cry of pain that he ignores. Suddenly the bell in the tower tolls and Dumbledore looks into the distance, seemingly in a trance. "Mysterious thing, time." He walks towards the door, making eye contact with Hermione, "Powerful, and when meddled with, dangerous." With his back turned to us, he stops at the door. "Sirius Black is in the topmost cell of the Dark Tower." He turns quickly, his voice grave and quiet. "You know the laws, Ms. Granger. You must not be seen." Hermione's grip tightens slightly as he starts walking back towards us, "And you would do well, I feel, to return before this last chime. If not, the consequences are too ghastly to discuss." He takes Hermione's hand with a fatherly glint in his eye, "If you succeed, more than one innocent life may be spared." Another toll. He moves to leave then turns back, quickly. "Three turns should do it, I think." He winks as the bell tolls again. It tolls a lot. He actually leaves the room before popping his head right back in. "Oh, by the way, when in doubt, I find retracing my steps to be a wise place to begin. Good luck."

He closes the door and Ron looks confused beyond reason, "What the bloody hell was that all about?" Hermione frowns at me.

McGonagall told me not to tell anyone.

Your secret's safe with me, Golden.

"Sorry Ron, but seeing as you can't walk," She loops the Time-Turner around all three of our necks, opting out a confused Ron. Harry reaches to touch it and Hermione slaps his hand. Suddenly, we stand in the middle of the room as time ticks back in what seems like superspeed. We're back in late afternoon and Hermione stuffs the turner back into her shirt with the other two necklaces.

"What just happened? Where's Ron?" Harry asks, Hermione doesn't answer, looking at the clock.

"Seven-thirty. Where were we at seven-thirty?"