A Question of Loyalty

Hermione always had the slight inkling that she may just be too smart for her own good. At her Muggle elementary school, she had always been the studious little girl sitting in the corner, curled up with a novel, while her classmates ran around and chattered. Once Hermione had received her Hogwarts letter, she vowed that this new world would accept her. She spent the two months before her first year reading up on everything about the wizarding world. She would impress them with her knowledge.

Hermione was wrong.

They reminded her of her Muggle classmates as they scampered around, ignoring her quiet protests.

But, Hermione reflected, it had not all turned out badly. She had made friends and people did accept her for her intelligence. Too much so, a part of her mind always cautioned. They see you are merely a brain. Nothing else. Hermione usually quashed that little voice.

After the Time Turner fiasco in her third year, Hermione never thought that she would voluntarily put on another Time Turner. They had too many unknown variables for her comfort.

She was wrong again.

"But I can take ten NEWTs," she protested to Professor McGonagall.

The older woman just gave her a severe look through her tortoise-shell glasses. "Miss Granger, that is physically impossible. Unless you agree to use a Time Turner."

"I can do them without the Time Turner."

Professor McGonagall sighed. "What is the problem, Miss Granger? You had no problem with using this in your third year. You are a trustworthy and responsible student. I trust that you will not use this for any untoward purpose."

Hermione gulped silently at these words. "I just," she trailed off. "There are too many possible ramifications!"

A frown formed on Professor McGonagall's face. "You will be using the Time Turner to attend extra classes and to study. Nothing else. What possible ramifications could there be?"

And Hermione couldn't think of anything to say to those words, so she had simply taken the Time Turner with a brief nod.

She looked at the sparkly hourglass in her hand. It looked the same as the one she had in her third year except for the tiny scrolling script at the bottom that proclaimed: The new and improved Time Turner! She frowned slightly. What did they mean by new and improved? As far as she could tell, it looked more or less the same.

Professor McGonagall gave a small cough and Hermione came to herself with a start. Had the older woman been speaking? She wasn't sure. "Sorry, Professor," she said contritely and left her office.

Walking down the a flight of stairs to the Great Hall, Hermione couldn't help but finger the Time Turner that was around her neck under her robes. It felt so strange for her to have the unfamiliar-yet-familiar weight there.

"Hermione!"

She spun around and saw Harry and Ron hurtling down the stairs towards her. She smiled at them.

"Going to Hogsmeade?" asked Ron.

Hermione pursed her lips. She had forgotten that it was yet another Hogsmeade weekend. "I might not," she began slowly before Harry gave her a mock-horrified look.

"How could you not? It's like?

"It's sacrilege!" Ron burst out.

She raised an eyebrow at the red-haired boy. "I see you've learned a new word." He blushed. "I need to study for my NEWTs."

"They're in a year," Harry's voice was flat. "Besides, don't you think we have more important things to worry about?"

There was no doubt in Hermione's mind what he was referring to, and by the rather panicked look that Ron shot her, he also had come to the same conclusion. Harry had changed somewhat from the mostly cheerful boy he had been throughout his first four years, to somebody who was mostly morose and always thinking of the upcoming battle. Hermione supposed that there was something to be grateful for that his attitude had yet to infest the rest of the school. From what she had read of the situation when Voldemort had first risen, most people had been far more paranoid than what Harry was now.

"Well, I suppose I'll go then," Hermione said quietly, earning her a very grateful look from Ron. She let out a mental sigh. It wasn't as though she had suddenly really wanted to go to Hogsmeade, but she had to go otherwise Harry was going to sink into another one of his moods and make Ron miserable too.

Hermione really wasn't sure how long she could continue to be friends with Harry if he kept on acting like this. In a way, she hoped that the final front-off with Voldemort would come soon, just so that she could get her friend back. That is, assuming he survived.

With a dry smile, Hermione realised that she wasn't exactly impervious to the rather panicked mood that seemed to be filtering around the castle recently. Even the teachers had been seen to jump at the slightest noises. It was as though the Order had received notice of an imminent attack and was terrified of it. She hoped that wasn't the case, though, from what Harry had told them of what had happened at the end of their fifth year, she wouldn't really put it past Dumbledore to keep that little titbit of information from the students.

Joining the line of students, Hermione turned to her friends. "What do you two plan on buying?"

Harry simply shrugged, but Ron answered. "Christmas presents."

She raised an eyebrow so he elaborated: "Really early Christmas presents. I mean, I doubt we'd be let out of the school again before Christmas."

Hermione nodded. That made sense. It was too dangerous to have Hogwarts students trooping around Hogsmeade in the current political climate. "It is equally dangerous today, though," she pointed out practically. "Perhaps they should cancel this trip as well."

"They can't do that," Harry said quietly. "If they do that, then what are we all fighting for?"

"I guess," Ron said doubtfully.

"Getting all philosophical on us, Harry?" Hermione tried to lighten the situation. After all, it was Harry who had wanted her to come and she wasn't going to spend the entire time just how many times he could die a gruesome death.

Harry shrugged. "So what if I am?"

Ron seemed to sense a possible imminent fight for he immediately held out a hand. "We're going to have fun today. Nothing else." There was a note of warning in his voice.

"Fine," Harry said shortly. "Fun. How about we first go to Zonko's, okay?"

"That sounds like fun," Hermione said brightly, forcing a smile on her face.

The three passed by the Ministry Aurors who were guarding the gates of Hogwarts. Harry gave a small wave to one of them.

"Was that Tonks?" Ron asked.

Harry nodded. "She wrote to me a few days ago sounding quite worried. They think there's going to be an upcoming attack."

Hermione folded her lips tightly. Predictable, she thought. They don't tell us anything. When will they learn that people armed with knowledge are far more potent foes than without. But she didn't say anything. There was no point in starting yet another argument with Harry who was still somewhat sore about the fact that Dumbledore had waited five years to share the knowledge of the prophecy with him.

"Do you want to get a butterbeer first?" Ron asked as they walked into the village.

"I'm quite thirsty," Hermione agreed, and glanced at Harry but he wasn't listening.

Instead, Harry seemed to be looking at something in the distance and frowning.

"What's the matter?"

"I feel? Harry reached up a hand and rubbed his scar. When his hand came down, it was bloody.

"Harry?" Ron said concerned and pushed the hair away from Harry's scar. Hermione gasped. The entire scar was pulsing red and oozing blood.

"I guess there's going to be an attack? Ron whispered when an emaciated hand clamped on his shoulder.

"Right about now, I would think," came the hissing tones behind them. Hermione whirled around and saw Bellatrix Lestrange standing there with a sneer on her lips. The dark-haired woman had her wand pointed towards Harry. "Now I wouldn't move if I were you," she told Hermione who was automatically reaching for her wand. "Unless you want your pretty Hero to die."

Harry spat at her, the globule of spit landing on her cheek. "What makes you think you could kill me, Death Eater."

She gave a high laugh. "I killed my little cousin, didn't I?"

Harry stiffened. "You didn't!" he said sharply. "He fell through the Veil."

"Believe what you will, boy," Bellatrix was dismissive. "But you three are coming with me right now."

"Or what?" Harry snapped.

"Or I will kill your friends." Lucius Malfoy came up behind Bellatrix and pointed his wand towards Hermione. "You wouldn't want your little Mudblood friend here to die, would you, Harry?"

He leered at Hermione, who involuntarily backed away.

Why was he looking at her like that?

Her gaze flickered around at the people who were walking past them in the village. Nobody seemed to be scared. In fact, everything seemed to be normal around them. It was as if?

"Yes, Mudblood," Malfoy's sharp voice broke into her thoughts. "There is a glamour around you."

"A glamour?" Ron stammered.

"Hiding us from sight and hearing," Hermione hissed.

Malfoy sneered. "Oh look, the Mudblood knows something. How cute."

"You can't do this!" Hermione burst out. "Dumbledore will know! He'll send people to rescue us."

"But there won't be enough time, will there?" Malfoy said smoothly. "You will be taken to a very well-hidden place, don't worry."

Time. Hermione frowned. Time. Time! Her new Time Turner! Her hand shot up and into her robes drawing out the twinkling hourglass. If she had looked up, she would have seen the look of pure horror that had shot across Malfoy's face. Hermione flipped the hourglass a couple of times. Suddenly, Malfoy's hand shot out and attempted to snatch the Time Turner off her neck.

Horrified, Hermione saw the little hourglass flip over and over again before being finally ripped from her neck.

She disappeared.