Cat and Mouse (Tomione)

chapter 1

     The final battle raged on into dusk. Both sides were tired while the chosen one and Voldemort fought mercilessly. One final stand off determined the fate for the entire wizarding world. Tom Riddle vs. Harry Potter was all everyone could think about. Who would win and who will die. As their battle came to an end, Hermione Granger made one final attempt to save everyone she held dear. She rushed into Dumbledore's office and to his desk to seek the one thing that could save Harry if he was to die. Her old time turner. After searching his desk fruitlessly she went to the bookcase next. He wouldn't hide such a precious object were it could be easily taken. Book after book was thrown to the ground in her hast to find it until she came upon Secrets of the Dark Arts. There laid her time turner ready to be used. She quickly place the turner around her neck and descended the stairs out to the field of battle.

    Many bodies lined the corridors of her beloved school as she stumbled upon Harry and Voldemort's battle. Stray spells flew everywhere as they battled. Her eyes trained on Voldemort's movements as he fought. He moved with a strange elegance as he fought on. Harry moved swiftly but he never seemed to glide just above the ground as Voldemort did. As Harry's last spell hit Voldemort's, sparks flew out everywhere but soon everything was over. Harry had won. As darkness over took Hermione all she could think of was how much she pitied Voldemort for not ever knowing what it was like to feel love and friendship.

   What most did not see was one of the sparks from Harry and Voldemort's final spells had hit Hermione's heart or what most believed that is what it had hit.

                                                                              ***

   Abraxas Malfoy sat idly by the black lake awaiting his fellow class mates as a blinding light erupted from the dock close by. The light died down gradually as a girls body appeared on the dock. Abraxas moved closer to see who the girl was but was unable to recognize her. Her chestnut hair fanned around her petite face. Blood soaked her torn clothes as gold dust was lightly covering her head to toes. Seeing the girls bad condition, Abraxas levitated her to the hospital wing. As soon as she was lifted into the air a small groan left her lips signalling to the young male that the girl was luckily still alive.

  Hours went by as the matron worked on the girl. Every so often the girl would wake up for a few seconds letting a horrific scream escape her delicate lips. Teachers and students came to see what the rumors had giving life to, only to find themselves quickly escorted out of the room in a minutes time. The only ones permitted to check up on the mysterious girl was the headmaster, the deputy headmaster and the boy who found her.

  Days went by until the girl opened her eyes. She took in every detail of her surroundings. The hospital wing looked exactly like she remembered it. The only difference now is that everything was still intact and war wasn't ragging outside the doors. As she started to arise sharp pain came from her ribs in protest from her movements. As if the matron could read her mind, an elderly lady appeared before her ushering her down to the bed and gave her pain relief potions. Only moments later the headmaster came through the doors with the deputy headmaster hot on his heels. Armando Dippet sat quickly by the girls bed as she was feed more potions by the matron while Albus Dumbledore eyed her curiously.

  Images flashed Albus's mind of the girls horrific past. Hermione had no control over her mind right now. All she could see were the memories of the dead and injured. Lavender's mangled body and blood splattered walls was repeating over and over again before her eyes. Bellatrix's torture and Malfoy's pained eyes came next. Lastly was Voldemort's cruel, evil laugh came last with Harry's body in Hagrid's arms. Even though she knew they had won and none of her friends could ever be hurt again, she still felt like she could of done more or saved another life. She felt cowardly and useless. She froze at time and in those time people had died all because she froze. "Brightest witch of her age," for what?

  Dumbledore looked at the girl with pity as he relived what she did. He felt her pain and heartbreak as her memories rushed into his mind. He cautiously closed her mind off from those around her so no one else would know her painful past.

  Hermione looked around her surprised to see the younger Dumbledore standing there. From that moment she knew she was no longer in her time. She was stuck somewhere in the distant past.