Meet the Parents

It was two days later when Ron and Hermione were allowed to get up. They were both sitting next to Harry's bed; for some reason, he needed more time to recover.

They were discussing all that had happened. Hermione, of course, had a theory. Ron, on the other hand, refused to accept it, and so they were bickering as usual. That was, until Harry noticed the calendar hanging on the wall. According to it, the current date was July 17, 1976.

Hermione wasn't surprised at all. Her only comment was, "See, Ron? It fits!"

"Yeah, whatever..."

"Oh come on, don't be so stubborn! It's the only explanation! We must have traveled back in time! Look at Pomfrey! If it isn't the way I think it is, then why does she look so young? And why doesn't she recognize us? It's the only way it makes sense."

"Maybe to you!" Ron snapped, 'because for me, this whole travel-back-in-time stuff doesn't make sense AT ALL!"

"Ron, please stop yelling. Harry's not feeling well, if you haven't noticed!" Now it was Hermione's turn to sound irritated.

"Sorry, Harry--anyway, the calendar doesn't prove anything. It could just have been left there because someone forgot to take it down. Or maybe Pomfrey likes the picture!" Ron didn't calm down. It was clear that the whole situation made him nervous. His reactions were similar to those of a little boy closing his eyes, so as not to see a displeasing sight. He refused to acknowledge the truth, hoping that as long as he stayed in denial, there was a chance that everything would somehow sort itself out.

"Oh Ron, please--that's just pathetic. I mean, look--let me just make it clear. First, we were in Percy's room and something went wrong with the Pastorale charm, right? And it happened when Harry wanted to see his parents when they were our age, right? And next, we found ourselves with a twenty-year-younger Madam Pomfrey with a calendar from 1976! That would be the year when your parents entered their sixth year, wouldn't it, Harry? Honestly Ron, if you see any better explanation, then please, enlighten me. I will be happy to hear it!"

Ron glared at Hermione and remained silent. Harry shrunk in his bed, hid his head in his hands and spoke quietly.

"Look guys--I'm really sorry--I didn't mean to do it--I know it's all my fault..." His voice trailed off, while Hermione looked at him with a mixture of anger and concern in her eyes. She opened and closed her mouth few times before she spoke with a low, angry voice.

"Now you listen to me, Harry Potter! I don't want to hear this crap EVER again! Don't you DARE blame yourself for this! Do you think we all don't know what you are doing to yourself? You indulge in self-pity, blame yourself for Sirius' death and now for that as well--but you know what I think? I think that the only people to blame are Voldemort and his goddamn Death Eaters. Not you! Not Dumbledore! We all, including you, do our best! And it's not like you've sent use here on purpose! It was a mistake! Something went wrong with the charm! It happens sometimes, you know! And anyway..." Hermione paused for a while and took a deep breath. "I'm sure they will send us back home as soon as you are all right."

The coughing sound from the door made the three teenagers' heads turn. They stared for a moment at Albus Dumbledore, who stood at the doorway watching them with thoughtful expression.

Finally, the headmaster spoke.

"I'm afraid, that I have overheard part of your conversation. It does explain a lot. I am truly sorry to disappoint you, young mister," Dumbledore nodded in the direction of Ron, who just looked at him blankly, "but your friends are right. We indeed are in the year 1976 now."

Saying that, the old wizard conjured a chair and sat next to Harry's bed.

"I believe you already know me. I didn't have the pleasure of meeting you, however. Please, tell me what your names are."

"I'm Hermione Granger, sir." Hermione answered, still staring at Dumbledore. Having an interesting time-travel theory was one thing, knowing that the theory is true was something totally different. Up until then, she had considered their situation as some abstract problem, not really affecting them personally, but the serious expression on the Dumbledore's face suddenly brought her to the realization of all the possible consequences of what had happened.

"I'm Ron Weasley," Ron added, looking pale and frightened. "And this is Harry Potter," he added, pointing at Harry.

"Yes..." Dumbledore said with a hint of the usual twinkle in his eyes. "I was sure, that your resemblance to James Potter couldn't be an accident--you must be his very close relative, am I mistaken?"

"No, sir," Harry's voice was so weak now, that he was barely audible. "I'm his son."

"And you must the son of Arthur Weasley then?" Dumbledore asked looking at Ron, who nodded briefly. The old wizard looked at Hermione then for a while, searching his mind for any Grangers, probably.

"I am Muggle-born, sir," Hermione said, before the headmaster could ask her any question.

"I see..." the man smiled briefly. "I hope you understand gravity of your situation. The Ministry of Magic has to be informed about your presence here. However, I think it might be easier for you to tell everything to me first. Maybe we will find a way to send you back sooner."

"We come from the year 1996, sir." Hermione started and then she told everything, trying to find a way to explain what happened without revealing too much of the future. She couldn't avoid mentioning the fact that Harry's parents were dead and that he was important for some reason. After she was finished, Dumbledore gaze wandered between three of them for a while, until it settled on Harry.

"Thank you, Miss Granger. I must be very fond of you Mr. Potter, if I decided to make this sort of present for your birthday. And you would have to be a very, very powerful wizard, if you had managed to cause this sort occurrence. I do not think that is the case, however. The Pastorale charm can be risky, if necessary precautions are not taken. Although I cannot remember anyone who actually used it with such a result.

"Anyway, we need to make some arrangements for your stay here. You are studying at Hogwarts, I assume?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. I believe that the Ministry will agree that our school is the best place for you to stay right now--it's quite deserted in the summer and the fewer people you meet, the better."

After the conversation in the hospital wing, Dumbledore indeed took care of everything. They were placed in one of the guests' apartments and given back their wands and some robes to wear, as they didn't have enough of their own clothes.

The very next day, a group of Ministry wizards arrived and questioned them thoroughly. After that, they reassured the trio that they shouldn't be worried, and that certainly a way to transport them back to their time would be found very soon.

The next day, two witches arrived with a lot of strange equipment and prepared for the first attempt at sending Harry, Ron and Hermione forward in time. The attempt failed, however, which didn't surprise Dumbledore.

Ron suggested using a time-turner, but Hermione explained that it shouldn't be used to travel to far, because it was easily getting unstable and the effects could be terrible, including throwing someone entirely out of time, whatever that meant.

Two days later, Harry was allowed to leave the hospital wing. They had few days which they spent not seeing anyone but each other.

Dumbledore let them use school brooms and Quidditch equipment, so Harry and Ron were flying most of the time, while Hermione buried herself in different books connected with time-traveling. Usually she told the boys about anything interesting that she had found in the evenings.

One thing that they were strictly forbidden to do was to leave Hogwarts' grounds, and they were especially reminded not to go anywhere near Hogsmeade. Not that they minded, as didn't have any money to spend in the shops or at the Three Broomsticks.

After few more days, the Ministry wizards came again. Harry, Ron and Hermione were given some potion, which resulted only in strange sensation in the stomach and nothing else.

Apart from the visits of Ministry wizards, they were rather alone and soon got bored, as they didn't really have much to do. They asked Dumbledore for permission to use their wands despite the fact that they were underage, but he refused and suggested that if they didn't know how to spend their free time, they could always make use of the library.

Hermione talked Harry into doing some more reading about Occlumency and even Ron skipped through few textbooks, testimony of how utterly bored they were.

Probably the worst thing about the whole situation was the fact that they weren't allowed to talk with Hagrid. The Hogwarts gamekeeper was informed that there were some guests in the castle and was advised to keep away from them. Yearning for some company, they cast longing glances in the direction of their former (or future, depending on the point of view) friend.

The feeling of dullness was even increased by the fact that there was really nothing they could do to change their situation. The young Gryffindors wanted some action, some adventure and were demanded to be patient and wait instead. Dumbledore told them with a sad smile that it was in fact a big favor from the current Minister of Magic that they were allowed to stay in Hogwarts and were not closed off somewhere in isolation.

They slowly became pessimistic about their soon-to-happen return home. Every time a new charm didn't work they were more and more disappointed, while Dumbledore was more and more intrigued.

A month or so has passed, when Dumbledore called them to his office.

They didn't even bother to hurry, being by now very skeptical about anything that Ministry or Dumbledore could come up with.

To their surprise however, instead of the usual group of wizards, there was only Dumbledore and one stern looking old lady in the room. She smiled a little at the trio, then turned to Dumbledore and asked,

"Shall I speak, or maybe you would like to do it yourself, Albus?"

Headmaster's face was grim when he replied.

"Let me explain the situation first. I'm sure that you are aware that various methods of sending you back to your proper time have failed. The Ministry experts have came to the conclusion, which I fully agree with, that there must be some spell active back in your time, which disables your return. In other words, something or someone we can't reach is the reason for your current position. That means, I'm afraid, that we cannot say when the return will be possible. I discussed the matter with many members of the Ministry of Magic, including the Minister himself, and we have decided that keeping you in isolation is quite pointless and even cruel, as there is a risk of you spending the rest of your life in this time."

Harry, Ron and Hermione sat motionlessly in the silence that followed the headmaster's words. They all looked terrified and paled visibly.

Seeing their emotions, Dumbledore made a reassuring gesture, but it looked little fake. "Please, I am not going to say that everything will be all right, but you shouldn't give up hope. This charm that keeps you here may wear off after some time and you shouldn't forget, that your families and other wizards from your time are probably trying to get you back as well. The chances of you staying here are in fact quite small. Still, we think that it would be terrible loss of time, if you weren't given the opportunity to continue your education. I think that you should explain everything that comes now, Miranda."

The lady smiled gently and began to talk in somewhat pompous manner. "My name is Miranda Goshawk, I assume that you might have heard of me--I'm the author of the Standard Book of Spells series." She paused as if waiting for reaction, but as none came, apart from a short 'Ah, yes!' from Hermione, she resumed her speech.

"I'm also the head of the O.W.L. Examination Board. Although I'm pretty sure that you remember your O.W.L. results, we cannot simply take your word on what they were. And that means that you will have to take the exams again."

"But--but we have only two weeks left till the beginning of the school year! How are we supposed to prepare?" Hermione asked incredulously.

"God, Hermione!" Ron snorted, "As if it was the biggest of your problems!"

"You shouldn't worry about that." Miranda Goshawk said. "We are aware of this fact and examinations will be simplified a little. I'm sure you will do just as well as you did the previous time."

Compared to the previous month, the remaining two weeks of holidays were so busy that none of the trio had any spare time left. Hermione used every occasion to study, but Harry and Ron only laughed at her.

If the exams were simplified, none of them noticed. Luckily, they did remember quite a lot. In fact, Hermione has actually managed to truly impress the examiners, as she received O for her first three exams (DADA, Transfiguration and Arithmancy). She continued in a similar fashion. Ron and Harry also did pretty well, considering the circumstances. It helped a lot, especially during the practice exams, that they didn't really care about the results and were not so stressed at all.

Apart from O.W.L.s, they also had other things on their minds. The Ministry of Magic had obtained for them all that they considered necessary, which included everything that they needed for school, some everyday clothes and a small amount of money they were to receive every month. They also made up a cover story for them.

They were supposed to be the siblings (Ron and Hermione as a twins and Harry a year younger than them) educated up until then at home by their mother. Their mother had died, however, and so they were invited to Hogwarts.

In order to make the story more believable and to hide their real identities, they had also their appearances changed a little bit. They all had their hair dyed to blond. Ron and Harry only laughed at each other, feeling ridiculous. Hermione, on the other hand, looked stunning with her new hairstyle. Her hair wasn't bushy anymore, but fell in gentle, golden waves to the middle of her back.

The first of September came in almost no time.

Hermione looked around her dorm with a mixture of strange emotions and thoughts loading her mind. She was extremely tired, partly because she hadn't slept much last night, but mostly due to the fact that, for the first time in her life, she had to pay very close attention to every single word she said.

It was so easy to make a mistake. When they were talking about teachers, she had almost slipped, saying some snide remark about her old Potions Master. When the topic was Quidditch, she had to kick Ron under the table when he was about to say something about Harry and him being on the team. Almost every subject seemed dangerous...she only hoped that they would manage...

At least they didn't have to pretend that they didn't know their way around Hogwarts. They told their new classmates, that they moved here right after their mother's funeral.

Now, she observed Lily, Alice and Lea as they unpacked their things, chatting. She had taken an immediate liking to Lily and Alice, although she was not so sure about Lea. There was something about her that reminded her distinctively of Pansy Parkinson, nothing about her looks though, as Lea was very pretty and graceful compared to Pansy.

Alice was rather shy and very similar to Neville in her behavior. She had a gentle way of speaking and a warm smile, which made Hermione feel somehow reassured. Lily, on the other hand, was really straightforward. She told Hermione on their way to Gryffindor common room that she would gladly help her in anything including schoolwork, and Hermione accepted her offer with a smile. From what she saw so far, she and Lily had the same over-achieving attitude toward learning and they were both prefects. Or at least, Hermione used to be one...

That was another thing that was going to be extremely difficult--pretending to be a worse student then she really was. It was necessary, however, as it would by highly suspicious if she knew more than people who were taught in one of the best wizarding schools in the world.

A sudden burst of laughter threw Hermione out of her thoughts. She looked at her roommates and asked, "Um, sorry, I wasn't listening. What happened?"

"Oh, you missed my story?" Lea glanced at her with a hint of disappointment, which was soon gone. "Well, I don't really mind telling it one more time--you know Heather, right? Well, she started dating a guy from Slytherin during the holidays and James went berserk. He was all about "you can't play well, if you are not sure which team you want to win". It was really funny..." Lea giggled. "It might be difficult for Heather score with Duncan being Slytherin keeper--she will get easily distracted..."

"Well, it works both ways, doesn't it?" Lily asked. "Duncan will probably be even more distracted anyway. I don't really see why Potter makes such a fuss over it..."

"Oh, Lily..." Lea's voice was playful. "Why are you always so irritated about anything James does? I mean, he's handsome, and popular, and talented, AND crazy about you--why don't you just give him a chance? He's got everything that a guy needs to have!"

"He is a conceited, big-headed show-off, who would probably get bored with me after a week, the same way his best friend does with every girl that he dates!"

Hermione snorted at that; she couldn't help being amused about how wrong Lily was. Lea looked taken aback.

"Well, I guess I should warn you, Hermione, that Sirius is the biggest playboy in this school. You've seen how he acted about you. He acts like that around every attractive girl that appears, so it's better that you don't think that he found you really special or anything. I know that it sounds harsh, but I've seen it way too many times. Better keep away from him," Lea said all that very quickly and without really looking at Hermione.

"And he isn't any different from Potter," Lily added. "I'll bet that he will invite you to sneak out for a date in Hogsmeade, boasting how he knows all the secret passageways in the castle..."

Hermione looked up at Lily, suddenly alarmed.

"Is there anything wrong?" the other girl asked.

"No..." Hermione replied nervously. "I just forgot about one thing--I need to tell something my brothers--I'll be back in a moment..."

Hermione stood up and left the room, all alarms in her head ringing... How could she forget about that? He knows all the secret passageways in the castle!

Ron and Harry left the room gladly.

"You came just in time, Hermione--nice beginning, isn't it? I can't believe it, they're throwing us out!" Ron said, but Hermione didn't pay attention to him.

"Ron, shut up, this is important!" she said impatiently, and Ron glared at her, but stopped talking nevertheless.

"We forgot about the Marauder's Map!" she said quietly, her voice deadly serious.