Oblivious to the Facts

Oblivious to the Facts
Chapter 7: Of Quartets and Millennia

"You went shopping?" Emma repeated after Hermione told her.

Hermione became panicky when she got home to her temporary home. Emma had offered to host her to stay in her own home, and the Watson's couldn't refuse. Hermione was clutching a bag of books as she talked to Emma in the guestroom.

"I know! And for books! Do you think he thinks I'm mad?" she looked pleadingly at Emma, who looked uncomfortable. Yet Hermione was too busy with her own thoughts and emotions to notice.

"Well, he likes you very much, and I'm sure he doesn't think you're insane. I mean.. you're mysterious... strange.. and.. book-wormy.. but he's awfully smitten with you," She smirked, but still had an odd look on her face.

"I.. guess..." Hermione whispered, falling back on the bed.

"Oh c'mon ... don't act that way," Emma said, standing up from a chair, "He absolutely adores you. 'Mione I swear you're the real Hermione Granger sometimes." She rolled her eyes, "Well, we have tomorrow... up and early." She sighed, "See you in the morning then?" She turned to leave.

"Sure..." Hermione said faintly.

---

Daniel was avoiding Hermione on the set. At least, that was what she thought. He'd been talking with Rupert and Emma, and hadn't once spoken to her. She sighed as she sat down in the Great Hall set. She was quite impressed, though she knew it didn't actually look like that. There wasn't even a tablecloth. She dismissed it. After all, how could anyone know what it all really looked like? Other than J.K. Rowling and herself. No one else should.

There was a bunch of books around the tables, but no one else was there. She sighed once more as she watched the dust fly round. Something strange was going on... wind blew... a book farther way on the table flew open and wind turned the pages...

Hermione approached the book cautiously and noticed that it looked genuinely real... not just made to look so. She glanced at the page that lay open.

Millennia: The Time Traveller

Millennia is a powerful sorceress, but she has the soul of a child. Her age was suspended and she does not have a real time she belongs to, as she has been able to travel through time for more than one thousand years, starting during the time of the Hogwarts Founders. With the mind of a child she manipulates time and dimensions. Out of boredom, Millennia grants wishes. For a millennium, she has travelled other dimensions as well.

Hermione blinked and picked up the book. "Wha'?"

Suddenly the door opened and Daniel, Rupert and Emma came in. Hermione, caught by surprise, fell on the floor. The book closed shut when it hit the floor, "Ow!" Hermione exclaimed when her bottom hit the floor. She stared at the book, which lay near.

"Why are you on the floor?" Rupert raised an eyebrow.

Hermione rolled her eyes, "You are definitely befitting as Ron."

"So," Dan said, "I talked to these guys and.. um.."

Emma finished for him, "You're in!"

"In?" Hermione inquired, "In what?"

"The trio," Rupert said, "What else?"

Hermione picked up the book as she got up, "But doesn't that negate the fact that it's a trio? It'd be a quartet.. and--"

The three groaned, and Rupert spoke, "Look, do you want to be a part of this group of friends, or what?"

Hermione bit her lip. What about her trio? Ron? Harry? Hermione Granger? She slowly answered...

"Yes...I'm in."

Oblivious to the Facts
Chapter 8: Saying Goodbye

It had been awhile since Hermione became one of the trio. And even a little more since she came to this world. Crookshanks purred on the bed. He seemed to be enjoying it all. It was more than a month since, June -- and Harry's birthday was coming up—and she'd miss it. Hermione had been dying... she just wanted to say happy birthday and goodbye... and see them one last time...

Emma entered, "So, when this is all over... where're you going to stay? I mean.. I'm moving out next year and.."

"I don't know yet... I'll know soon..." Hermione looked at Crookshanks. He was asleep. She bit her lip and turned to Emma, "Um, I'm going to go somewhere for awhile... I need to get my old stuff, you know, before I move out... I'm getting an apartment soon."

Emma nodded, "Oh, why didn't you tell us?"

Hermione smiled, "It's complicated."

---

The weather was somewhat strange once more. Hermione stepped off the bus. She came to London... she needed to... she just couldn't disappear without saying goodbye... not to her family... not to her friends... not to the best friends anyone could have. Fog loomed in... and Hermione waited. It was the night of July 30th... almost his birthday... in a few seconds it would be his birthday... and Hermione waited.

She had asked Emma to take care of Crookshanks while she "went to visit her parents." It wasn't a complete lie, and besides, she was getting very good at lying now. It didn't matter if it was the truth. She wasn't even her true self anymore. She was Hermione Potter... a pretender in a world she wasn't born in... a world where she was... fake.

Five...four...three... a clock was about to ring... two...fog gathered and swallowed her whole.. one... she yelled, "I want to visit home!" The last thing she heard was a clock striking twelve. When she opened her eyes again, the fog was clear and the cold gone. She was home.

---

She realized she was standing right outside a door. Harry's door? There was only one way to find out. She rang the door bell. She could hear noises inside -- someone coming to the door. The sound of chains unlocking followed.

The door slowly opened. It was a girl... younger than Hermione, with flaming red hair and freckles. She blinked as Hermione smiled. It was Ginny. She looked at Hermione in confusion, "M-may I help you?"

Hermione grinned wider. Of course Ginny wouldn't recognize her. Not because she was gone for so long... but because she now looked different. Her hair was no longer long and bushy but short, straight, and with blonde highlights, "Sure, you can answer this; am I late?"

Ginny gasped and clamped her mouth with her hands, "Oh my God!"

Hermione hushed her, "Shush! Don't give it away... not yet."

Ginny nodded slowly and shakily, "Y-yeah.. w-we'll all be so h-happy to see you!" Her lip quivered as she told this to the other girl. Hermione smiled.

"I hope so.."

Ginny was shaking as if she had seen a ghost. She was leading Hermione, who looked much calmer, down the hallway. Hermione, finally being influenced by Emma, thought that Harry's place needed a change. It looked very much like one of those Victorian homes.

Hermione grinned as she entered the living room. The Weasleys, Sirius, Remus, and Harry... they were all there. She looked over them, knowing it'd be the last time she'd ever see them again. Fred blinked, he had been on the floor, along with all the presents and wrapping paper that littered it, "Gin, why are you all clammy? And who's that?"

Hermione bit her lip to keep from laughing. Everyone had a confused look on their face and their jaws were hanging. Then it just became too much... especially when Harry barely got out, "H-H-Hermione?!" Jaws fell even more and Hermione burst into hysterical laughter.

"Oh! You guys should see your faces! This is way too funny!" And she laughed, if it was possible, harder when she was engulfed in warm hugs and breathless "I don't know what to say"s.

"I thought you'd never come!" Harry said, finally saying something other than her name.

"Yeah," Hermione smiled weakly, too tired from laughing, "Sorry I'm late."

"Better late than never!"

"...yes.. yes it is..."

Hermione spent the rest of the day there... soon almost everyone was gone... except her best friends. They were family... and she would love them forever. She didn't know how she could tell them. She couldn't. So she didn't say anything about the other world... they'd convince her not to go back, and that was the last thing she wanted. She wanted to be with Daniel... that world was hers now... not this.

She stood out in the yard, staring at the sunset.. she'd have to leave before midnight. But first to her parents. To set things straight... to leave...

She heard someone come outside. Ron and Harry stood, looking sad.

"You're leaving, aren't you?" Harry asked in barely more than a whisper.

Hermione nodded sadly. She would miss them indeed. The best friends anyone could have.

Ron sighed, "We figured... so we'll be giving you your birthday present early. We made it during Hogwarts..."

Harry took a green velvet box out of his robes. It fit in his palm perfectly, "From us to you."

Ron rolled his eyes, "It was mainly his idea. I just signed my name on it." Hermione took the box and put it in her pocket. The boys hands were warm against hers. Her hands were cold and lonely.

"We'll see each other again," Harry smiled, determinedly.

Hermione turned away, "Oh I don't-"

"I wasn't asking. I was stating." Hermione gave another weak smile.

She turned to Ron, held his hands and kissed his cheek, "Take care.." she whispered. Hermione let go and held Harry's. She smiled once more and kissed his lips lightly. It was brief and Hermione was starting enjoy it. She broke off before she felt anything more. "I don't know," she whispered and turned to go.

She ran into the darkness. "Wait! Hermione!" Ron called.

Harry held him back and told his friend, "We have to let her do this. It's her choice. We can't make her see it." Ron nodded, knowing all too well that Harry was absolutely right.

She didn't know how, and she could care less, but she ended up at her parents soon enough. She would explain to them and ask them never to talk of it. Not to anyone. Not even to Harry and Ron. No one. Not a soul. Not to each other. Not even to her. She'd take her wand... some money... a couple of pictures... and lots of goodbyes. Their goodbyes was much shorter and yet more emotional. She wished them the best and went away to London again.

She watched the fog as she sat on the bench, sitting at the bus stop. Just waiting once more. It would be a little while till twelve.

Hermione waited, expressionless, deep in thought. She felt coldness to her right. Someone was there. Someone. with a ghostly touch.

"So... you want to go there again?" Hermione turned to look. It was a girl, barely older than thirteen. Yet she had silvery white hair, pale skin, and a grin that reminded her of the Weasley twins, "Fine. But this is the last time! You are so demanding! And... I do have other people to mess with you know." Hermione nodded, but didn't talk to her. The girl smiled very, very widely.

Millennia disappeared in smoke and fog surrounded Hermione for the third time. The last time? She would cease to exist to her own world now. But she didn't care anymore... there was too much to care about.

Oblivious to the Facts
Chapter 9: The Promised Gift

Hermione sighed as she flopped down on the bed. It had been such a long day. She closed her eyes... and remembered...

"Hey, back already?" someone said from the dark doorway. Hermione sat up and saw Emma grinning, "So, where'd you go?"

Hermione sighed once more, "Just visiting home..."

"Okay, see you in the morning," Emma waved and yawned. She walked back to her room sleepily.

Frowning, Hermione felt something in her pockets. She took out the gift Ron and Harry had given her, and looked at it. It seemed simple and sweet... She opened the box slowly and gave an admiring sigh.

"Oh you guys," she said. She could've hit them. Slowly she lifted up a triangular shaped locket... It was silver and the lamp in her room gave it a beautiful glow. She slowly opened it; being careful as if it could break at any moment. She smiled as she saw two pictures. One was of her--a stationary smile plastered on her face. The other had all three of them... in the background was Hogwarts...

Hermione blinked... The background had changed and the three of them were grinning up at her. Hermione gasped, "Oh guys!" Harry waved at her... she missed them so much. She could never love her new friends like she loved her old ones... but it was time for a new start... a new world...
She had to face the facts. She didn't exist to her world now. She would never see it again...

...Would she?