Eternal Love

Chapter 2

1978

Hermione was warped into a very familiar territory yet everything felt different. The students meandered through the halls in uniforms with slight tweaks to the current one that she was used to and the building felt much more livelier compared to the last time she had seen it.

The girl who was usually full of answers was currently clueless. The hallways were unusually busy and filled with students of all year groups making mione feel more like home than she had in months.

Over all the crowds of chatter one voice stood out extremely clearly. A women in her early 50s telling children to hurry to their lessons in her cheerful wisdom filled voice, clapping her hands decorated in green and black robes that draped down to the floor.

'Come on now you lot, your professors won't be happy if you turn up late! It may not be allowed but don't think for a second I wouldn't turn you into a toad.'

Hermione found herself swivelling her body around, still disoriented and confused as to where exactly she was, to find no other than a 20 year younger version of the professor Mcgonogal she knew and loved.

A sigh of relief left her throat at the sight of a familiar face, she was about to approach the teacher taking rather large strides to get some well deserved answers when she realised she knew the man that stood proudly next to her.

Professor Dumbledor.

The last time she had set her brown doe eyes on him was with his corpse laying against the cold stone floor. Her breathe hitched and her hands felt clammy as she continued to stand in the centre of the room, how was this possible?

Her legs were frozen and no movement was coming from any parts of her body. Until a cold pale hand grabbed onto her wrist and pulled her into an empty classroom.

"alohamora" whispered a husky and low voice. A fresh scent of sea mist and cologne clouded her nose as the door shut behind the pair with a trail of smoke following.

Unaware of her surroundings or who her kidnapper was she tried to clear her vision from the tears that clouded her eyesight.

Although she was confused and worried she couldn't help the sense of relief she felt. Hermione didn't think she would be able to look at her old headteacher much more before she would burst out into tears. Oh how she wished Harry was there to console with, she felt so selfish knowing how much her best friend would've wanted to see his teacher one more time and she had done nothing but avoid the man and his heartwarming smile.

Anxiety weaved it's way threw her body resulting in her legs giving way and collapsing on the floor, her back slumped against hogwarts old stone walls and she brang her knees to her head in effort to hide her red rosy cheeks.

She cursed at herself for not being able to control the way her hands were shaking.

"lumos" followed by an "oh shit" was murmured by a young man that was a similar age to Hermione. Not much could be seen by the dim light spurting out of his wand other than his dark black fluffy hair that was displayed perfectly on his head and his tall figure leant against the door, trapping the two inside the classroom.

He eyed the girl infront of him whilst taking a drag of the cigarette that was placed between his lips. As he released the smoke from his lungs he started to speak to Hermione. "Apologies love, thought you were someone else."

When he got no response he leant down so he was on the same level as hermione, directly opposite and took another blow. The access smoke dissipated into her curls causing her to lift her eyes to finally see who the boy was.

Coffee brown met hazel brown and they were caught in a gaze that was broken
by the boy clearing his throat. "Why so gloomy ...."

"Granger, hermione granger"

"Granger, never heard of you"

"and you?"

"That is for me to know and you to find out"

The silence was thick between them and Hermione lowered her head once more in disappointment.

"Regulus"

"Hm?"

"The names regulus"

He took a few strides away from the girl as he spoke and leant against a dark wooden desk tapping the cigarette, kindles of the fire lit up and brightened the classroom for a mere second.

Hermione's mind was racing with a million questions.

She lifted herself up from the floor she was currently slumped down on, brushing the dust off her school robes. "What year is it?"

"huh"

"What year is it!?" She asked frantically, still utterly confused and scared.

"1978, didn't think I grabbed you that hard for you to be con- fucking- cussed"

"I- I'm fine, at least I think I am"

"Uhm okay, well I best be off then stranger" he exclaimed as he stubbed the end of the cigarette into the desk and dropped it on the floor, rubbing the soul of his shoe and smearing the remnants into the floor.

She had never felt so helpless and confused in her life, not even when they'd gone weeks without a clue on a horcrux or when the train was bombarded by dementors. Not even when death eaters invaded the school, because she had her two best friends, but now she was completely and utterly alone with only a stranger for comfort.

"No please" she squeaked, her hands continued to quiver as she pulled at his robe as he opened the door handle.

Regulus looked down at the notion before looking back up at her face. "Come with me then"