Through all time

Chapter 2 - Rude Awakening

Through all time

by LilyGreenEyes

(Translated from German into English by Nina Berner)

Chapter 2 - Rude Awakening

As Hermione slowly regained consciousness, every single bone in her body seemed to ache. Her vision was still only blurry, and it took her some strain to push herself up, only to be pressed back down at her shoulders. Surprisingly she found herself lying on a bed. Trying to swallow, her throat felt uncomfortably coarse and dry, feeling the taste of dust and iron on her lips. She tried to turn her head to find out whom the person was who sat beside her on the bed, but all she could make out was the frame of a young man.

Hermione tried to clear her throat. "Harry?"

She heard a quiet sigh. "No - who is Harry?"

Again Hermione tried to swallow, and again tasted only iron and dust, as she coughed mildly.

Only a few second later somebody lifted her head and slowly cold water was dripping into her mouth. Urgently she swallowed the cold liquid; she was not sure when she last had something to drink. Her voice was not more than a coarse whisper as she tried to say Thank you.

Gently he placed her head back on the mattress, and she could feel the slight movement below her.

"What happened to you? You were badly injured... who did that to you?"

A sigh escaped her throat. "The battle ... Voldemort ... Where ...where am I?"

Her words seemed to have captured his attention even more; he turned towards her and looked at her in earnest expectation.

"There was a battle? Where? Against whom did the Dark Lord fight?"

Hermione felt her throat tightening. "Hogwarts ...against everyone ...everyone not on his side ...They are dead ...all of them," Hermione gulped "...and those, who did not die ...they are surly dead now too."

"That is nonsense, there was no battle here! Lord Voldemort certainly was not here in Hogwarts. Perhaps I should better get you to Madam Pomfrey."

It took a while to process his words. "Where am I?"

She heard him sigh. "Hogwarts, where else?"

"Hogwarts? What time?"

"What do you mean? It is Saturday..."

"When?"

It seemed as if the young man did not understand what Hermione meant. Again she tried to sit up to look around herself. This time he let her, even tried to help her.

As he leaned towards her, she felt him surprising close and a mild scent of mint and cedar wood caught her attention. A scent that seemed so familiar, but she could not place it.

Hermione blinked a few times, trying to adjust her sight, and she looked around the room, yet she could not remember having ever seen such a room in all of Hogwarts.

"Where are we? I have never seen this place?"

The question seemed to surprise the young wizard. "You have been to Hogwarts before? I have never seen you here."

"It should be my final year and I should be close to finals..."

The dark haired boy moaned annoyed. "It is not possible... I am in my final year and I am sure I have never seen you here before!"