Oblivious to the Facts

Oblivious to the Facts
Chapter One: Completely and Utterly

Hermione let out a puff of warm breath, watching as it clouded her window. Her head rested upon her arm, which in turn rested on the windowsill. There was no question about it. She was completely and utterly bored. Bored out of her mind; and even her books could not relieve it. But... why? She had had enough adventures at Hogwarts. Perhaps too many, but here she was, her first month back; barely a week since graduation, and she was bored to death.

It was as if her personality had been turned upside down. She had owled Ginny about this, but Ginny suggested she might simply be suffering post Hogwarts displacement. True, Hermione was acting out of character, but she didn't miss Hogwarts -- or long for any more adventures.

She was just bored.

Hermione was going to live with her parents for the time being, until she found a home. Her parents consistently suggested she try her hand as a dentist, but she 'd had enough of that from them.

Likewise, Harry himself had felt somewhat out of place. After all, Voldemort was gone, and his scar too. But Harry was trying to make it all work out. Hermione wasn't even trying. Ginny told Ron about Hermione's letter. He was shocked, of course, but had remained tactfully silent. Hermione was thankful for that.

---

The week passed by. The first week of the rest of their lives, and an unusually cold week at that. Hermione remained indoors, feeling quite depressed.

"Honey," Hermione's mother questioned at breakfast that Saturday, "Are you okay?"

"Uh-huh," Hermione replied absentmindedly, looking out the window while eating pancakes (an unusual occurrence within her home).Her mother frowned, but said nothing.

"Oh yeah... 'mione?" her father said, "A letter came for you yesterday," Hermione turned to look at him. He dug through one of the pockets of his coat, pulling out a parchment made envelope, "Ah, yes. From Harry, I reckon."

"Oh," Hermione quietly accepted it and finished breakfast. She went up to her room as soon as she was excused and carefully read Harry's letter.

"Dear Hermione,

How are you? Still horribly bored? (Hermione nodded) Well, I'm actually feeling great! I found a place of my own.. (“Oh good,” she muttered) It's not that I don't like staying at the Weasleys', and I'm not saying that just because Mrs. Weasley is looking over my shoulder. (Hermione smiled) Guess where though? Godric's Hollow! I didn't tell you but we - the Weasleys, Sirius and Remus - all helped build it back together. Too bad I never got to live with Sirius, huh? Anyway, I'm sorry I didn't tell you straight away -(' Oh you better be, 'Hermione thought angrily, ' that might have relieved some of my boredom!')--but I ... well I wanted to surprise you. I hope it's okay. I'm REALLY SORRY! I was just busy... it slipped my mind. ('Sure it did', she thought) Can you come? Please? You can even help decorate! I really need help... PLEASE?

Love Always,

Harry"

Hermione frowned, but mentally agreed. Why hadn't he told her?!
"C'mon Crookshanks," She called, and he jumped on her neatly made bed, purring, "After I write a letter, want to go to the Owl Office with me?" Crookshanks purred, agreeing. Hermione quickly scribbled a response.

"Sure, why not? I haven't got anything better to do. See you soon!

Hermione"

She quickly folded the letter and rushed downstairs, "Going to the Owl Office!" she mumbled as she rushed out the door, Crookshanks following behind. Her mother stared after her.

"I suppose she's going to Harry's right after," Her father said as Hermione slammed the door shut.

"You read her letter?"

"Might've glanced at it..."

Out side it was very foggy and Hermione was glad the Owl Office wasn't too far. She'd never actually noticed it until that week. She had to run a couple of blocks to get there; when she finally arrived she was out of breath.

--

She sighed when she left. From behind her feet, Crookshanks hissed.

"What's wrong?" Crookshanks stayed behind her. Hermione frowned and walked into the thickening fog.

Oblivious to the Facts
Chapter Two: The Fog

"Crookshanks, what's the matter?!" Hermione asked as he jumped into her arms. He hissed in no particular direction, prompting Hermione to cry "Oh Honestly!"

Something seemed out of place. Suddenly there was nothing but clouds and the ground around her. She froze., Crookshanks shivered and cowered. Hermione gave a gulp. What is going on?

Everything seemed ominous. The fog was closing in slowly. It was horribly eerie. Hermione gave a sudden yelp when the fog suddenly engulfed her and a cold chill swept over her body. It wasn't precisely the same as having dementors surround you, but it wasn't all too different either. Within a minute, the feeling was over. Her eyes were closed but she could feel herself warming up again. People were passing by her. A loud train whistle prompted her to snap her eyes open.

Hermione blinked as she found herself in front of a black and red train. It was King's Cross - but how had she come there? She saw Platform Nine, and Platform Ten, but no students.

"You can't go through mum! It's because you're a Muggle!" Hermione heard a little boy tell his mother, who looked considerably irritated.

"Excuse me?" Hermione walked over, still clutching a terrified Crookshanks, "What's your son saying about... Muggles?"

"He's just a Harry Potter fanatic," the woman replied. Hermione must've had a blank look upon her face, as the woman added, "Don't tell me you never heard of Harry Potter!"

It didn't make sense. Was this woman a Muggle or not? "Oh," Hermione felt she had to say something that didn't sound suspicious. But she was still confused. "Of course I have. Who hasn't?"

"Good. You had me worried for a minute there," the woman smiled, "My son's begging me to buy the fifth movie on video. He's been a fan since he was three years old! I tell him the books become more mature after the fourth one, but does he listen? Oh well. Kids!" She shrugged and she and her son walked on, heading for the train.

Hermione remained still, confused, apparently alone... and, quite obviously... lost.

Oblivious to the Facts
Chapter Three: Lost in a World with No Magic

"Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore," a television said as Hermione passed by a store with television sets and other electronic merchandise.

"Crookshanks, I don't think we're in Hogwarts anymore," Hermione imitated, almost giggling. He nodded sourly, and shivered once more. Why was he so afraid?

Sure they obviously were no longer at Hogwarts but... Hogwarts was... like home. It was a symbol for their Wizarding World. Now, there didn't seem to be one at all.

"Ooooh! Mum! Mum!" Hermione heard a girl squeal as she passed by a rather crowded bookstore. That was strange... a bookstore - crowded? And there was no sign for any famous author signing autographs. "They have all of it in a special edition set! Oh, can we please get them? Please?!" The same girl whined.

Hermione was about to go, but her curiosity was caught. All of what? Do many children actually LOVE reading in this world? Hermione saw a poster on the window. With Harry? It didn't look a lot like him, yet there were similarities... The poster was an advertisement, reading:

J.K. Rowling's best seller books, Harry Potter,
now in a leather bound set. Collect all seven!

Hermione blinked. Books? J.K. Rowling? Best Seller? ...Seven? Crookshanks hissed softly. Hermione didn't understand why he did, but she shook it off. She was too curious. She had to read these... stories. Hermione bit her lip and tried to get in.

"What's the cheapest of these books?" She asked the cashier without hesitating. Fortunately, no one was at the checkout yet.

"Paperback at $5.00 each in American currency. Lots of tourist here. How will you pay? Dollars or pounds?"

Hermione put a hand to her chin. She searched in her pockets with her free hand and, fortunately, found quite a lot of money. She had some wizard money too, but that would now be useless." Okay, I have pounds... er, how much for the whole set?"

Her bag was considerably heavier when she left the store. Crookshanks finally left the comfort of her arms, which were becoming slick with sweat. She was really getting tired of holding him. He followed closely behind her.

She was in London. At least she knew that, but she couldn't find the Leaky Cauldron anywhere! Starting to tire, she sat down on a bench near a park. Hermione relented and started to read her copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. She was startled when she first read. With a shake of her head she put the book back in her shopping bag and quickly glanced into all of them. She thought it might be just some overbearing, extremely odd coincidence, but no. This was their LIFE at Hogwarts... or to be more precise, Harry's life. Harry's thoughts, and observations, were there. Not all, but events...

This isn't possible, She thought, speechless as she took one last look at the final book. Everything was accurate... but where was that world now? Gone... forever?

---

She wandered around some more, and eventually found herself in what looked like a studio. She glanced at the gates. Movies... she wondered if they made movies too. According to the woman she had first met, there were at least five.

Crookshanks hissed furiously and started to run away. Hermione barely had time to acknowledge this before something hit her legs. Knocked off balance, she fell heavily, first hitting the gates then the ground. Her vision blurred, she made out a figure coming towards her, obviously shocked.

"Harry?" she managed to whisper before everything went black.