MAY 2, 1998

It was exactly one hour after the Battle when Dumbledore approached Hermione about his mission for her. To say she was extremely worried was an understatement, but Hermione had nothing to lose. Everyone was gone, there was nothing and no one left for her here. They had either died fighting or been lost in the crossfire. Both Harry and Voldemort had died in the face-off as did many of her friends.

Dumbledore's idea was pretty basic. Travel to the past, change the future so Voldemort never came to power, and settle in the past. Now Hermione was in his office, surrounded by his many silver trinkets.

"Ok, Ms. Granger. Once you get to the past, contact my past self and hand him this" Dumbledore passed her a thick packet of parchment across the desk. He eyes no longer held the sparkle that was so familiar. He was a defeated man, the war had taken its toll. "It will explain to him your mission and give him your past grades and such. With any luck, this information will be good enough for you to earn the Headship. If I remember correctly, the original Head Girl never showed up that year"

"But sir, why do you think I will have any influence on Tom Riddle in the past?" Hermione asked.

"It is my belief, Miss Granger, that the only reason Tom Riddle never knew how to love is because no one taught him in the first place. From his childhood in Wool's Orphanage until today, Tom Riddle never had anyone to care for him. This is your mission Miss Granger. Find good in Tom Riddle. Even if it is a pinprick in the midst of his darkness. I implore you to learn to see good in him. If not for me, for you all your friends you have lost today" Dumbledore stared at Hermione as he watched for her reaction.

Tears pricked her eyes and she thought of all the lives lost today. Hermione didn't know what to think. Find good in Lord Voldemort. How was she supposed to do that? He was evil. Black to the core.

"Sir, he's Voldemort. You're sure that he has any good left in him?"

"Not yet. He is not Lord Voldemort yet. Not until he makes his first Horcrux will he turn down the path to eternal blackness," he said softly "Miss Granger, are you ready to do this? You may never return to the future."

"Yes," Hermione whispered and closed her eyes, her hands shaking. She heard Dumbledore mumble a long incantation and heard something burst from the end of his wand. Before she knew it, she had blacked out.

SEPTEMBER 1, 1943

Hermione woke with a start. She shakily pushed herself up off the cold stone floor and took her first look at 1943. Evidently, she had awoken in the second floor corridor, not in the Headmaster's office as she expected. Hermione set off down the corridor to the Transfiguration classrooms praying that they were still in the same place.

She had only been walking for a few minutes before she encountered the very person she was searching for, Professor Dumbledore. He was no longer silver haired, but had a auburn beard and looked slightly younger. He looked mildly surprised to see her wandering the castle. Hermione realized that part of his astonishment was probably due to her appearance. Hermione didn't think to clean off the grime and dried blood left over from the final battle before she had left.

"My dear girl, what are you doing here? The students aren't set to arrive for another hour," the Professor asked kindly. Hermione handed him the parchment envelope from his future counterpart with a shaking hand. He quickly glanced back at Hermione before reading its entire contents.

"I believe we should finish this conversation in my office," Dumbledore said and began to walk back down the corridor with Hermione. When they arrived, Hermione was slightly comforted to see his office was quite similar to the Headmaster's office in 1998. Many of the same instruments were whirring on various tables around the room. There was even a large bowl of Lemon Drops. Professor Dumbledore gestured for her to take a seat before speaking.

"From what I understand from this letter, you are from the future?"

"Yes, professor. I was sent back to change the future."

"You seem to be an intelligent witch and have obviously heard that dangerous things can happen to wizards who meddle with time," he stated

"But I do not plan on ever going back to the future. There is nothing left for me there. This is the only chance to save the ones I love" Dumbledore gave her one of those looks that gave the impression he could see right through you.

He sighed. "Very well, Miss Granger. I will trust you on this matter. Circumstances must be very grave indeed for my future self to be forced to resort to this. Then there is the matter of keeping your identity a secret. No one may know the true nature of how you came to be here. There are many wizards who will surely use the information you possess for their own gain."

"In the future, we discussed what we would do about this. You had suggested that I tell others that I was homeschooled until recently when my parents were killed by Grindlewald. I then fled the country for my own safety and knew of a magical school where I might be safe in Britain." Hermione said

"Yes, that just might work," Dumbledore said thoughtfully "Although, we might add that you are my distant relative to explain how you found your way to Hogwarts. You will have to see the Headmaster of course. But before we do, I would like you to know, Miss Granger, if you ever have need of my assistance I will be here to listen." Tears pricked her eyes at his kindness "May I also suggest a change of surname?" Dumbledore continued

"Thank you, professor and I had been thinking of the name Evans"

"That sounds satisfactory. Shall we go see Headmaster Dippet, then?" he asked cheerfully. Hermione nodded hesitantly. She was a little reluctant to see the Headmaster. But then, it must be done. She couldn't stay in the comfort of Dumbledore's office forever. Hermione followed Dumbledore to the stone gargoyle that concealed a staircase to the Headmaster's office.

"Gobbledegook," muttered Dumbledore and the gargoyle sprang aside.

Armando Dippet, a frail, pompous looking man, looked up when they walked in.

"Albus, to what do I owe this honor?" he stated

"Armando, I have a new transfer student who needs to be sorted," Dumbledore replied

Dippet looked politely interested. "A transfer student? At this late notice?"

"Yes, this is Hermione Evans, my distant relative. She has recently been forced to flee her home because of Gridlewald's assault on Europe. Miss Granger contacted me in the hopes that she might be able to join Hogwarts before the start of term. I assured her that there was plenty of room."

"Very well. Do you have your past records Miss Evans?"

"Right here, Armando" Dumbledore passed him the man. Dippet looked quite surprised at her grades "It says here that you received ten O.W.L.s. Is that true?"

"Yes, Headmaster," Hermione replied, blushing slightly

"Right, then all that's left is your Sorting" He walked to the shelf behind him and carried the familiar Sorting Hat over to her and placed it on her head.

"What's this? A time-traveller, eh? War survivor too… Plenty of Bravery and Loyalty…Great wit and intelligence…GRYFFINDOR!"

Dippet returned the hat to the shelf and sat down again at his desk. "Well then, Albus, why don't you show Hermione where she'll be living?" he said and returned to his paperwork without a second glance.

Dumbledore led Hermione to the Gryffindor common room. "I will come and fetch you when the students arrive. Until then, make yourself comfortable. If you go up to your dorm, you will find your uniform along with some other basic necessities. The password's Noctum."

"Thank you, Professor, for everything," Hermione said.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he said, "I think that I am right in saying that this year will prove to be very interesting indeed" With that, he left Hermione to her own devices. Upon entering her dorm, Hermione found a trunk with what Dumbledore had described. She was also surprised to find a small sack of gold nestled next to her textbooks. Again, Hermione was stuck with Dumbledore's thoughtfulness.

By the time she had cleaned up, changed into her new school robes, and walked by down to the common room, Dumbledore had arrived to take her to the Great Hall.

The students streaming through the doors in the Entrance Hall cast her curious glances as she walked past. She barely noticed their interest. All Hermione could think about was how different the castle looked then how she had left it in 1998. The walls were intact. There was no sign of battle. She felt her chest constrict.

"There's no point and thinking about that, Hermione. Get a grip. Don't break down, not here," she thought

Hermione walked with Dumbledore, head held high, despite her less than encouraging thoughts. After what seemed like ages, Hermione sat down at the Gryffindor Table. That was when she saw him, her heart stopped. There, at the Slytherin table, sat the very person who would make her life horrible. Tom Riddle. He was the sole cause of her situation. The only reason she had lost all her friends. Hermione became filled with anger and disgust. She wanted nothing better than to curse him with the most painful spell she could imagine and then some.

Find good in Tom Riddle. Dumbledore's words came back to her. She suddenly felt guilty. She would get nowhere with this attitude. He wasn't Lord Voldemort. Yet.