A Second Chance

Chapter 3 : Truth and Confessions

Harry Potter again awoke with a start, but this time all he could see was darkness, he was sweating profusely and his vission was blurry, he fumbled on his night stand to find his glasses. After wearing them he was able to witness his surroundings, he was on his four-poster bead in the boy's dormitory. He peeped from the curtains and heard Ron snoring loudly. He stood up abruptly and stumbled to reach the calendar, upon seeing the date he was certain it wasn't just a dream. The date read 2nd September 1994 2:00 am.

Harry was contemplating what this meant for him and his friends. He was given another chance to prove himself and would be able to save numerous people than before and would be able to confess his love to Hermione. 'Hermione' he thought. He wasn't sure whether he should tell about his time travel to his best friends or not. After a few moments he decided only to tell Hermione about it because she was the only one he trusted now after the conversation with death. It was early in the morning and he wouldn't be able to sleep now and so he decided to go to the common room and read something.

He quietly left the dormitory and was descending the stairs when he heard the fire still burning, there was someone already in the common room. He didn't fret about whoever they could be and quickly reached the last step, the scene in front of him made him stop dead in the tracks.

There was his Hermione, sitting on the couch, reading her book with determination and was scrunching her nose, or biting her lip whenever understanding the text or thinking. He was staring at her with teary eyes and thanked death and fate to give him a second chance at life. He hadn't realised he was crying silently when Hermione's voice brought him back to the present.

"Harry, what are you doing here? Oh my god, what happened, why are you crying? " asked Hermione worriedly, when she still didn't receive any answer from him she stood up and walked towards him.

"Harry why are you crying? " she asked again, now face to face with him and was confused as to what he was feeling. Harry shocked her suddenly when he hugged her tight and started sobbing loudly than before. "I.. I'm.. sor.. sorry... Hermione". he managed to say in between his sobs.

Hermione was utterly shocked, this was the first time Harry had initiated a hug. But she didn't let her confusion get the better of her and she soothingly rubbed his back and lead him to the couch. " Whatever are you sorry for? " she asked not recalling any mistake he had committed.

Harry decided this was the best time to tell her the truth and hence he waited till he calmed down, his sobs slowed down and he was in control of his down pouring emotions. "Hermione do you trust me? " he asked calmly.

"Of course Harry with my life" she answered sincerely and a small smile on her face.

He returned the smile and was really grateful to her for trusting him. "Okay what I am supposed to say should remain a secret for now between the two of us okay? "

"Okay I promise I won't tell anyone else, but what are you on about? " she asked, curiosity clearly etched on her face.

He took a deep breath and readied himself for whatever questions were going to be bombarded on him by her, if he know her properly. "Hermione I am a time traveller, I was sent back in time during the battle of Hogwarts. "

Hermione let the words sink in and gasped in surprise, "but... but if you're a time traveller you have to make sure you aren't seen by anyone, why are you here telling it to me? " she asked remembering the rules of time travelling.

Harry smiled again and said, "that's the thing Hermione, I had sacrificed myself during the battle and hence only my soul was thrown back in time so my soul is 17 years old while I'm 14."