Desperate Measures

For a brief moment, Hermione was afraid that she was going to have to go across the lake with the first years; she realized, after a moment, that she had already been sorted, which was the entire point of going across the lake.

Then, Hermione wondered if her presence was going to be announced by Headmaster Dippet. Probably not, she thought. That would draw far too much attention to me, and I'm trying to stay as low-profile as I can.

She followed Elizabeth into a carriage that was only slightly less than full, though she noticed that the robes all had the green serpent insignia of Slytherin House. Feeling out of place for more than one reason, Hermione tried to join in the conversation, introducing herself as a transfer from 'Tarnley', a school Professor Dumbledore had invented to avoid certain questions from being asked. Her fellow Slytherins seemed only slightly interested in her, and she was grateful that they chose to ask very few questions.

She was surprised to see that the carriages were not being moved by thestrals, which had been visible to her since she had witnessed Harry Potter's death. They seemed to move completely on their own; Hermione assumed that they had been charmed to take the students to Hogwarts, because, for some reason, there weren't any trained thestrals on the grounds.

Hermione was thinking, about the people she'd left behind and about what she had to do. She had no idea how she was going to change anything more than the memories of a few students and teachers. She was supposed to change history, itself, make sure the prophecy was wrong.

She had only known about the prophecy after Harry's death; he had not told anyone about it, except in a letter he wrote, the summer after his fifth year, and had given to Dumbledore to open only if he died, and give it to Ron and Hermione. It was one of the first signs of Harry's newfound state of being; he became obsessed with death. He planned for his own death, worried about that of his friends, and was determined to bring it about in Lord Voldemort. He hid it well, though, and few noticed. Hermione and Ron had only noticed a slight change, nothing anywhere near as drastic as what had actually happened. She thought about the letter:

To: Ronald Bilius Weasley & Hermione Jane Granger

If you are reading this letter, it means that I've died. Unless Voldemort is dead by now, as well, he will never be defeated. There was a prophecy given before my birth, the record of which was accidentally destroyed in the Department of Mysteries by Neville Longbottom. You know that much. You assumed that the prophecy could never be heard, and I never corrected you.

"the one with the power to vanquish the dark lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, BORN AS the seventh month dies... and the dark lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the dark lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the dark lord will be born as the seventh month dies..."

That is the prophecy Sybil Trelawney gave to Albus Dumbledore. I heard it for the first time in Headmaster Dumbledore's office shortly after the battle in the Department of Mysteries, and many times after in my mind. It says that I am the only one who can destroy the Dark Lord, that we are the only way the other can die. If I'm dead, it means that he's finally killed me, and that now, he can never be defeated. I'm sorry...

She tried not to cry as she thought about Harry. She had to do something to make the prophecy worthless. What she could possibly do was beyond her. For the time being, she had to try to get used to living in 1943 and wait for inspiration to strike.

The carriage stopped, and she didn't notice at first. Her stream of thought was broken by Elizabeth calling her name. It took her a moment to realize that 'Jane' was her new name. She apologized for not paying attention, feigning embarrassment, and explained that she had been caught up in the majesty of Hogwarts. Elizabeth smiled and nodded her head in agreement that Hogwarts was beautiful, and led Hermione up to the castle.