Lost in time

You're ruining the moment

Walking into Dumbledore's office, Hermione noticed the aging wizard sat behind his desk, his half-moon spectacles perched on the very edge of his nose as she rubbed his hand over his face as though he was consumed by stress or tiredness. His head slowly lifted, glancing towards the door before noticing Hermione standing there awkwardly.

"Ahh Miss Dumbledore, I see Mr Nott delivered my message?" He questioned rhetorically to which Hermione nodded silently before taking a seat in front of him.

"I see you've found a new group of friends, my dear? Quite a dangerous move, if I do say so myself." Dumbledore spoke, staring at the bushy haired witch over his glasses as she gulped.

"I know." She answered, not being able to say anything else. His stare was ominous, as though he knew all her secrets without telling them.

"Ahh, I see..." He trailed off, nodding his head before motioning to her arm.

Hermione lifted the cloak, revealing the intricate black swirls. They were quite mesmerising and the more she stared, the more she became entranced. They seemed to move before a sharp pain coursed through it, as she yelped.

"Hermione?" Dumbledore spoke, his voice questioning.

"Yes?" She replied, nervously. His tone wasn't comforting.

"I have a theory. Very far fetched but still, it would explain quite a lot of things." He paused for a moment before carrying on. "I believe this scar; this pattern is quite alike Harry's. The scar on his forehead that connected him to Voldemort? I think that this pattern on your arm may be the same. It would explain the pain you experience randomly and the incident in the common room? When you collapsed? I believe that was-"

"Voldemort's doing." Hermione finished and Dumbledore nodded. "So, you mean, I'm connected to him? I can see what Harry used to see? I can sense the horcruxes?"

"Well, I believe so yes. And I believe that we can use this power to help. If you agree, I'm hoping that you will allow me and Professor Taylor to help you. And hopefully, we'll be able to end this sooner or later. You've been here so long already, and we've only managed to destroy two of the horcruxes."

"Two?" Hermione questioned, she couldn't remember much from that night. The night where she had acquired this scar.

"Yes, the diadem and the cup. I destroyed them whilst you were in the hospital wing" Dumbledore replied, motioning to the Gryffindor sword that was displayed in a clear box on the wall.

"So, if I'm connected to Voldemort, does that mean I will meet the same fate as Harry? Must I sacrifice myself? What if I am not able to come back like he did?" Hermione asked, questions flooding her mind.

"Unfortunately, I do not know the answer to that yet. I guess only time will tell." He replied with a glum expression.

Hermione nodded silently, not daring to speak a word. She let her eyes trail around the room, noticing the portraits lined up on the walls. Right in the middle of them all hung none other than Godric Gryffindor who smiled down at her.

"Good luck my child." He spoke, his voice scratchy but calming. "You will succeed, and you will be brave throughout it all. A true Gryffindor through and through. If death is what meets you at the end of all this, then you will greet death with a smile. Death is cruel and sinister, but he knows fairness. Contradicting and confusing, yes but you will understand when the time is right. Just as every one of us understands now." He motioned to the rest of the portraits who nodded their heads in agreement.

"My dear, I wish you luck." A young witch spoke. Her grey locks flowed around her shoulders, ending around her waist.

"Thank you." Hermione whispered, a tear falling as she smiled.