Through Her Eyes

Chapter 8: The Truth Revealed

Hermione's brain hurt. That was the first thing which came to her mind as she groaned in agony and lifted a hand to cradle the large bump formed on her head,

'Certainly a Patrificus Totalus would've had the same effect as solid wack to the cranium?' Hermione thought sarcastically, feeling four paws gently walking about on her stomach before a body plopped heavily down onto her abdomen.
Opening her eyes, Hermione could see the ancient wooden ceiling, crossed with thick planks to hold up the floor above her. She was certainly not at Hogwarts -as the air smelled heavily of cigars and liquor instead of wet limestone and parchment. Lifting her neck slightly, Hermione saw the big eyes of Crookshank's staring right back at her, a soft mew escaping his frowning jowl as she made a move to sit up.
The Gryffindor was in an unfamiliar bed, fully clothed - thank Merlin - and thrown haphazardly under the thin blankets. The room she inhabited was completely barren besides the bed itself, the small end table and a wardrobe. Rolling her bottom lip under her teeth in nervousness, Hermione picked up Crookshanks and held his kitten body gently,

"Where are we Crooks?" She asked him, rubbing the sweet spot on his ear. Certainly the cat didn't care where they were, as long as he was getting attention from his owner. Just then however, the door to the room opened. Jerking around for her wand, Hermione was panicked to find that it had been taken from her. So as the figure entered, she clenched her fists, ready to defend herself the muggle way. Who appeared however was not whom Hermione expected,

"Aberforth?"

Her fists dropped as she took in the sight of the tall, grumpy faced man, "Aberforth Dumbledore?"

"You best start explaining yourself now, girl," he mumbled, closing the door quickly and waving his wand to cast a silencing charm, "cause you've got some explaining to do,"

"I-I'm sorry?" Hermione asked, heart thudding a bit louder in her chest as Aberforth charmed the window of the room as well, "did...did I do something wrong?"

"You sure did girl. You got guts, but yer' stupid,"

Aberforth didn't really explain as he walked close to Hermione and pushed a shot glass into her hand,
"Drink. And don't go smelling it neither,"

Hermione nodded out of fear, swallowing the shot and coughing as her throat burned,

"Shot a Firewhisky never did any young witch harm. Now, you best start talking,"

Aberforth summoned up a chair and sat backwards on it, fixing Hermione with an intense blue gaze. Her heart stuttered as questions raged about in her mind. Did Aberforth know? Blinking, she kept playing her innocence,

"I'm sorry sir, but I don't know what you're talking about,"

"Don't play stupid with me, I know a Time Traveler when I see one. And when that mangey thing walked inta my pub I jus' knew. Loyal as all hell that beast is,"

Hermione pulled Crookshanks farther into her arms as her eyebrows knotted in confusion and fear. Time Traveling farther back then you were born was an extreme offense in the eyes of the Ministry of Magic. She could easily be sent to Azkaban for what she's done already,

"How...how do you know?"

Hermione's voice was tiny, barely audible as Aberforth's eyes twinkled in a similar manner to his brothers,

"To be honest, I didn' know it was you until I saw you out by my dumpsters. But I had a Seer pop in a few months back, man was drinking on a whim - had a vision right down at the bar, he did. Said something bout a strange, all-knowing Traveler comins to change the future,"