Time in a bottle

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'Minerva...'

The strange young witch just fainted in front of her.  She wore curious muggle clothing and looked like she had just been fighting in the trenches.  She would have called for the mediwitch until she heard her name come from her mouth like a familiar prayer.  She looked exhausted and had finally let loose when she saw the Scottish witch.  This alone made Minerva wonder where she might have met the young witch...or by judging her appearance maybe when would be a more accurate question. 

The castle had eyes everywhere and so with consideration to the young woman's saftey she lifted her using a featherweight charm and closed the heavy door behind her, muttering the deepest wards she could muster including silencing spells.  Minerva had taken to removing all paintings from her chambers long ago when she valued her secrets and solitude.  They were alone and would have the space to discuss at length what brought this young woman to her. 

Minerva sent an owl to Dumbeldore stating that she would be unable to make it to her classes tomorrow, as a matter of family had come up at this late hour that required her attention.

With everything now handled she turned to the young witch she had placed on her large couch.  She ran simple diagnostic spells and was not happy with what she found.  However before she could dive deeper into her inner monologue the object of her scrutiny woke up. 

A soft smile upon her face when she realized the familiar couch she had spent many a night on was where she had appeared.  Hermione hadn't realized just how exhausted her body was after so long on the run with the boys, the torture at the hands of Bellatrix, the resulting dragon ride and escape from Gringotts, and the final battle all took its toll on her slight frame.  The tumble through time was just a footnote in her troubled state it would seem.  With the knowledge that her body was more worse for the wear than she anticipated she stayed lying prone in the elder witch's presence. 

She cleared her throat as she opened her eyes. 

'I would imagine you have questions.'  The Gryffindor girl stated

'That would be putting it lightly Miss err?'

'Granger'

'Ah, yes Miss Granger, I suppose you will have much to say to me tonight.  However as you are obviously exhausted how about the short version and then rest.  Most everything else can be managed tomorrow.'

'That would be wonderful Professor.'

Minerva smiled at the politeness of the young witch.

'Well I guess I should show you this.'  Hermione said as she pulled out her damaged time turner from around her neck.

'Is that...'

'Yes, it is your time turner damaged from a battle in the future.  I do not even know when I am, but wearing this just saved my life, so, I know at this time I don't exist but I want to thank you anyway.'

Minerva digested this information slowly.

'I must trust you very much to have gifted you that.'

'It was for purely intellectual pursuits, I assure you.  From a young age I have devoured knowledge.  In my third year at Hogwarts you let me borrow your time turner so I could take more classes.  I also have been secretly studying with you for my level 3 masters in Transfiguration for the last few years before I was on the run with the boys durning the war...but I'm getting ahead of myself, in this timeline I quite literally ran into a young Narcissa and told her and Madame Pomfrey that I was your young niece visiting from the Americas where I was on a traveling dueling team, and had just arrived post tournament.  It was the only thing that sounded plausible with my current state and familiarity of the castle.'